Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 January 1913 — INDIAN RELICS ARE FOUND [ARTICLE]

INDIAN RELICS ARE FOUND

Archaeologist Excavates Site of Old Camp Near Cumberland In s Maryland. Cumberland, Md. —Relics of early Indian life have been discovered by Frank Ventine, an enthusiastic archaeologist of Ridgely, W. Va., In excavating the site of an old camp near Cumberland. Decayed posts In the red loam showed where the tents, or tepees, once stood. Many relics were found In the floors, which were very hard as though from years of constant use. In one was found a well burnt clay pipe, decorated with straight and zigsag lines. Near the pipe 12 flint dishes, leaf-shaped, were found buried 12 Inches below the surface in a circle, each one overlapping the other. They are all of black flint, and Mr. Valentine says he does not know of any ever found In this part of Maryland. Mussel shells were found in large quantities in the bottom of some of these ancient abodes. Indicating that mussels were used for food. Turtle

shells and deer hdrns were also found. Included in the find were the remains of eight or ten pots, all having the marks of the plaited baskets in which they were molded. Some of the rims of these vessels are finely decorated. Mr. Valentine also uncovered several fireplaces. In one of these broken pipe stems and bowls were found. One pipe bowl has a turtle in high relief on the front, and -is marked with triangular lines and dots. A small ornament of burnt clay was also found. It has a small hole in each end and is supposed to have been on a necklace. Many unfinished bone and a few stone beads were unearthed. Most of the bone beads were sawed from the leg bones of the deer and then polished. One complete pot that will hold three pints and one very small one, that holds about one-eighth of a pint were secured. The smaller has a knob on either side with a hole in it for a handle. This was the largest Indian camp site in this part of Western Maryland, according to Mr. Valentine.