Alexandria Gazette

Examination of a Mound.—Dr. M. Z. Kreider, of Lancaster, Ohio, at a recent meeting of the Fairfield county Medical Society, made an interesting statement relative to the contents of a mound in the neighborhood of his residence. We find Dr. Kreider thus reported in the Ohio Eagle:

The mound is situated nine miles southeast of Lancaster, in the township of Rushcreek, is 150 feet in circumference, and probably was originally 15 feet high. It was opened by my direction, on the 10th July last, and the following discoveries were made. On a level with the surrounding surface, there was found a regularly built furnace of rough stone, 18 feet in length, 6 feet wide, and 18 inches high, having a stone, which showed that it had been operated shaped with some instrument, during the month. On this furnace, a vessel of the same length and breadth, and 2 feet deep, was traced. This vessel was about half an inch in thickness, and composed of clay and pounded shells, burnt like potter's ware, and was perfectly smooth within and without. The vessel contained 12 human skeletons of various sizes from that of children of five years to adult age the adult bones being thicker than those of our race. Around the neck of one of the children was found 32 beads from muscle shell, a piece of cane, some entire muscle shells—arrows, and a curiously wrought stone. Under the vessel there was about one foot in depth of wood ashes and charcoal. The bottom of the vessel, by the exposure to heat, very nearly resembled common not metal. The bones, beads and shells, soon crumbled into dust after being exposed to the air—and the vessel likewise soon fell to pieces.

The Ohio Journal remarks that the Doctor's theory of the origin of these mounds, which are to be found in every section of the Western country, is quite singular. We shall leave it to those more learned in the lore of antiquity, to demonstrate its absurdity. Dr. Kreider presumes that these works of art were made by the sons or descendants of Cain, and that they were reared before the deluge. He considers as beyond doubt.