Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 February 1919 — FOUND OLD INDIAN VILLAGE [ARTICLE]

FOUND OLD INDIAN VILLAGE

Jirtsregtina Rc-ica, Believed to Be_G«nturies Old, Recently Unearthed in New York State. - -.Relics of an Indian village, said to have iwi-origin as early as 1575, have been discovered in Ciason Point, the Bronx, according to an announcement made by the Museum of the American Indian. Heye foundation. The discovery was made by Alan B. Skinner, archeologist of the foundation. The discovery is regarded as a very important one by the members of the foundation. Research establishes that the village was probably inhabited by natives of the Siwanoy tribe, known to very early settlers as “Snakeskins.” The research, made through the kindness of a trustee of the foundation, has established to the satisfaction of the board that the tract remained in possession of its Indian inhabitants until 1625, when it was purchased by Robert Cornell, an Englishman. Cornell’s family was later massacred by the tyirbarlan tribe. During the attack he managed to make his escape on a Dutch ship. Mr. Skinner was making a pleasure trip through Clason Point, which is somewhat of a summer resort, last July. He noticed very large oyster shells on a mound of sand and recognized them as Indian boundary line markings. He obtained permission from the owner of the land to make a search of the ground. To the surprise of the searchers, relics of Indian life were unearthed. Costumes, beads, cooking utensils and a complete hair dress of the Siwanoy tribe were discovered. Seventy lodge sites, contain 7 ing hundreds of Indian implements and tools, were also dug up. The collection contained crude harpoons, fishhooks, carved tortoise-shell cups, bodkins and decorated pottery. Hundreds of pipes and a beautiful mold jar w’ere discovered intact, and all are being preserved for public exhibition when the museum opens. This history speaks of the Siwanoy practice of digging sand holes and placing large quantities of food and other offerings to the “Great Snake.” It W’as announced at the museum that the relics will be placed on exhibition at the opening of the exhibit.