Woodland Period, (1000 B.C-500 A.D.) Point Peninsula Focus, who are defined as possessing, Vinette
I and II pottery with exterior cord-marks, arrow points that were thin semi-lozenge, turkey-tailed,
broad stemmed, broad side notched with expanded base or round ends, and double side notched, clay
tubular pipes, trapezoidal convex-topped rectangular broad gorgets, birdstones of two types (bar and
broad base with transversal ridges) narrow rectangular round-ended gorgets, thin elongated objects of
slate, flat copper celts, cylindrical beads of rolled sheet coper, sinew stones of the ovoid flat pebble
type, expanded base drills with scraper edge, cremation (both single and multiple) and bundle burials.
The Archeology of the Northeastern United States, 1952, Richard S. MacNeish, writes, “Point
Peninsula culture in its earlier stages shows more resemblance to Adena [Allegewi] than to Hopewell,
but in its later stages Point Peninsula certainly becomes more Hopewell-like. Point Peninsula II and
ultimately Point Peninsula III, as I shall point out, there are indications that Point Peninsula III is
ancestral to Owasco and that some Owasco is ancestral to some Iroquois groups. In other words there
is evidence for cultural continuity from Early Woodland through Point Peninsula I, to historic Iroquois.
Thus the proto-Iroquois may have entered New York bearing Point Peninsula culture in Early
Woodland time.”
Point Peninsula burials have been found along the extent of the Great Lakes region from New York
to Wisconsin. A Point Peninsula burial mound was excavated near Walkerton, in Porter County,
Indiana. Bodies were described as being in the flexed position and surrounded by red ochre. Elbow and platform pipes were within the mound that are distinctive of Point Peninsula. Pendants with one
perforation and bone harpoons were also found within the mound that are common in Early and Middle
Woodland Point Peninsula and also in the Late Woodland, “Intrusive Mound Culture.”
The Point Peninsula people have been linked with the Late Woodland, “Intrusive Mound Culture.”
These are burials that have been found in the upper region of burial mounds that were placed there at a
later date. Why would the Iroquois do this unless they thought that these graves contained their
ancestors? Intrusive graves have been found at Portsmouth, Mound City and other mounds sites. We
know that the ancient Iroquois were trading with the Ohio Hopewell Sioux and shared similar religious
and burial rituals. It is likely that they were involved in the construction of the great earthworks in the
Ohio Valley.
From Archaeological Atlas of Michigan, 1927, “The outstanding feature of the county was an earthwork quite unusual in its outline for Michigan, but common in Ohio. In the north part of the city of Tecumseh, near the band of the River Raisin, at what was once known as Brownsville, there was circle joined by a passageway to a square.”
Evidence of an early Iroquoian presence in the Ohio Valley was found near Bainbridge, on Paint
Creek, where a cache of Turkeytails were discovered. Another Red Ocher Discovery in Ross County,
by Barry Grandstaff and Gary Davis reported; “This is not the first evidence of a Red Ocher presence
in Ross County. There is the well known Spetnagel cache of over 200 ceremonially “killed” Turkey
Tails found in the excavation of a house basement in nearby Chillicothe in the 1920s (Converse 1980).
There is also the find made by Clark Johnson near Bourneville within a short distance of our site consisting of Turkeytails, gneiss bar amulets and rectangular gorgets in close proximity to Adena
material. Our discovery is further evidence of a strong Red Ochre presence in the area at a time when
Adena should have been in its early stages.”
One similarity the Point Peninsula Iroquois shared with the earlier Maritime Archaic and the Hopewell Sioux were animal head-dresses. On a sandy ridge in the south shore of Ridinger Lake in Kosciusko County, Indiana, Point Peninsula Hopewell burials were unearthed, and reported in, Hopewell Artifacts from a Burial in Kosciusko Co., Indiana: The Ridinger Lake Site, Dr. R. M. Gramly, Ph. D., Buffalo New York. Found within this burial was a copper head-plate that was described by Dr. Gramly, “The head-plate is dished and would have conformed to the wearer's head. Head plates or “helmets,” as they are sometimes called, supported dear horns or wooden imitations and were ceremonial regalia. Iroquois Indians of New York State to this day still refer to the “horns of office” and a chief who has fallen from grace may be deprived of his powers or”dishorned,” so to speak.”
E. A. Allen wrote in The Prehistoric World, 1885, “Early explorers have left abundant testimony to
show that in many cases the Iroquois Indians resorted to mound burial. Thus, it seems that it was the
custom of the Iroquois every eighth or tenth year, or when ever they were about to abandon a locality,
to gather together the bones of their dead and rear over them a mound.”
The Prehistoric Aborigines of Minnesota and Their Migrations, 1908, “The mounds that are
common in southern Michigan and along the Lake Huron shore northward from Detroit, as well as
those in northern Ohio [and Indiana], western New York are attributable to the Iroquois or to some of their kindred tribes, viz; the Hurons, Eries and Neutrals. The Iroquois dominion extended to the north
shore of lake Huron even in historic times. Indeed there is good reason for believing that the Iroquoian
and Siouan stocks at this time possessed the whole country east of the Mississippi River and south of
the Great Lakes to Northern Georgia, constituting together the great Ohio dynasty of the mound
builders.”
Tan mottled pipestone tubular pipe from a gravel kame near Oxford, Ohio from The Ancient Ohioans, Raymond Vietzen, 1946.
Skeletal remains found within burial mounds and glacial kame burials in the southern teir of the
western Great Lakes are described as having prominant brow ridges, thick skull walls and other
attributes of the Upper Paleolithic Cro-Magnon. Position of the skeletons within mounds and kames
vary; some are in a sitting position, others were placed in a spoked position similar to those found in
the Ohio Valley. Some mounds contained the remains of many skeletons. In most cases there is
evidence of fires, either baked earth on the floor of the mound, or a layer of ashes above or below the
burial.
Burial procedures across the entire Great Lakes are similar to Allegewi-Hopewell with a few noteble
differences. Spoked burials occur with the Allegewi-Hopewell, but what is different with the Iroquois
is that they were placed in a sitting position facing to or away from a central fire pit or sea shell.
The following is a list of spoked burials that extend from Ontario through New York, Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois to Wisconsin. Included are skulls that are reported to have had protruding brow
ridges, with “primitive” characteristics. Annual Archaeological Report for Ontario, 1896-1897”
One group exhibits circular to oval mounds from 25 to 40 feet in diameter and heights from 31/2 to
5 feet. Burials are on the original ground level, which has been prepared by burning in certain areas.
In one case the skeletons radiate outwards from the center, apparently in extended positions. In others
they were possibly the same, but one of them contained a number of partial burials as well as an entire
one. In this structure were found a few pieces of mica, a rough stone sinker, a few mussel shells, a
large slate knife or chisel, a small rough stone axe, a trapezoidal slate gorget with one per
foration and
roughly made chert points, both triangular un-notched and triangular notched.”
Memorials of a Half Century (Michigan) 1885
By far the finest group of mounds that has come to my to my knowledge occurs on the bands of the
Grand River, three miles south of Grand Rapids. They were still perfect when the writer had the
satisfaction of seeing them in 1874.
Of the smaller mounds, six were opened. In all skeletons were found, generally one only in each, and
all were so decayed that it was impossible to preserve them. They were of ordinary size, except one,
which is pronounced gigantic, the proportions “indicating a stature of seven feet.” All were in a sitting
posture, and faced different points.
County of Williams Ohio, 1905 On the south half of the northwest quarter of Section 10 in Brady Township, on the land now owned by James F. Smith, was a solitary mound of considerable magnitude. On opening it, six full-developed skeletons were found and one of a child about eight to ten years of age. They were lying in a circle with their heads in the center, in close proximity to each other. Dr. Frank O. Hart, of West Unity, now deceased, secured the skulls from this mound and described them in a written article as follows:
“They were very thick. The brow ridge is very prominent. The orbital processes are profoundly marked. Average distance between temporal ridges of frontal bone, three and half inches; from temporal ridge of frontal bone to occipital joint, nine inches; length from beginning of frontal bone to occipital joint, twelve inches; from occipital joint to foramen magnum, three inches.”
History of Northeast Indiana, 1905 A number of years ago M.F. Owen excavated a mound situated in a piece of woodland, on the east shore of the first “West Lake: on the north side of the old highway. On this mound had grown a large white oak tree, which, having just been felled, showed a growth of between 300 and 400 years. Among the roots of the tree were unearthed a skeleton in a sitting posture, facing west, the bones of which crumbled rapidly when exposed to the air. There was found and preserved a root which had grown apparently into the ear orifice of the skull, afterwards emerging through the eye, and firmly attached thereto is a well preserved piece of the frontal bone, showing great development above the eyes.
Counties of Whitley and Noble Indiana, 1882
A member of the historical force opened a mound in the Salem Church Cemetery, Washington
Township, but discovered nothing save a considerable quantity of charcoal. Mr. Denney opened two
mounds on the farm of Samuel Myers, Orange Township, both containing nothing but Charcoal; he
also opened three more near there, on the farm of Otis Grannis, one of them being eight feet in height and about eighty feet in diameter at the base. Three quite well preserved skeletons were taken from the mound, one of the skulls being almost in entirety, and having a much better frontal development than the average. On this mound was an oak tree four feet in diameter and probably more than three hundred years old. This mound is probably the largest in the county. Two other mounds near it, of average size, contained a bed of charcoal each. Mr. Denney, assisted by his brother Orville, opened three more on the bank of Skinner’s Lake, Jefferson Township, and took from one a quantity of human bones; but this mound had been opened a number of years ago by novices in the neighborhood, who used no particular care either to observe or preserve, and the number of individuals buried there is unknown, though these were several. The other two mounds contained charcoal.
Mound in Noble County, Indiana was once situated on an ancient lake shore. The large hole in the center is the result from excavations in the past and recently by universities. Two additional small mounds, described in the previous history, are also still visible. This mound site and 82 others in Indiana are not listed, nor recognized as historical sites. From The Nephilim Chronicles, A Travel Guide to the Ancient Ruins in the Ohio Valley, 2010.
American Antiquarian, April 1878
Lake County Illinois Mr. W.B. Gray, of Highland Park, also mentions the discovery of a skull in a mound near Fox Lake, in Lake County, Illinois. This skull is certainly very remarkable; the frontal lobe or arch seems to be entirely wanting; the large projecting eye-brows, deep set eye sockets, the low, receding forehead, and the long, narrow and flat shape of the crown rendered it a very animal-looking skull. If it was not a posthumous deformation it certainly is a remarkable skull and might well pass for the "missing link." It was found in a mound six feet below the surface, in company with thirteen other skeletons. The skeletons were found lying with their heads to the center and their feet arranged in a circle around this point.
Smithsonian Institutes Bureau of Ethnology, 1890- 1891
Sheboygan County, Wisconsin About 2 miles west of this, (a mound containing a large skeleton), on a bluff overlooking the marsh, was another mound of simular form and slightly larger, which had been previously opened by Mr. Hoissen of Sheboygan. It was found literally filled, to the depth of two and a half feet with human skeletons, many of which were well preserved and evidently those of modern Indians, as with them were the usual modern weapons and ornaments. Beneath these was a mass of rounded bowlders aggregating several wagon loads, below which were 40 or 50 skeletons in a sitting posture, in a circle around and facing a very large sea shell.
The most compelling evidence that ties the Great Lakes burials with those found in the coastal
regions are the gigantic size of the skeletons. Descriptions of the skulls are consistent with Upper
Paleolithic Cro-Magnon, with furrowed brow, sloping forehead, massive jaws and thick skull walls.
Supporting evidence that the people buried in the glacial kames around the Great Lakes share the same
origins as those on the coasts, are the reports of skulls with a double row of teeth. Perforated Skulls from Michigan, American Antiquarian Vol., Xll, No., 1 Jan., 1890 Mr. Bates and two friends made an excavation in a vacant lot located within the area of this old cemetery. they came upon a curious and interesting burial spot, at a depth of two feet, five skulls were found, lying in a circle, facing the center. Within the circle were ashes and charcoal,--evidence of fire; but the bones were not all burned. On the perforated skulls two had “double teeth” in front. Mr. Bates says the third may have had also.
A Study of the Glacial Kame Culture,in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana, 1948 by Wilbur M. Cunningham
The Burch Site [Michigan]
During the year 1905 or 1906, Clark Burch, a farmer, while digging gravel to fill low spots in his barnyard, unearthed five human skeletons on his farm near Coldwater in Township 6 South, Range 7 West, Branch County, Michigan, less than twenty miles from the state line of Indiana. These skeletons were in a gravel deposit defined as glacial outwash and probably the remnant of a strong sandbar.
The skeletons were taken to the farmyard where they were examined, photographed, and measured by a physician who has long since died and whose records cannot now be located. They were then placed in a corn crib and, with the exception of two skulls, one of which was loaned to a student of dentistry, were destroyed when that building later burned.
The physician who measured the bones is said to have made the statement that two of the skeletons were unusually large persons. Clark Burch, the finder of the skeletons, is still living on the same farm, and his testimony indicates that the burials were undoubtedly in a sitting position, with most of the artifacts “in their laps.” With or near the skeletons he found much red paint, charcoal, some pieces two feet long, and many shell disk bead; the beads were so numerous that he and his helpers did not bother to pick them up all of them. The bones were not covered with red paint, as they are in some burials. The teeth is some skeletons were in a good condition and in others badly worn. Mr. Burch insisted that at least one of the adult skeletons was equipped with two rows of teeth! Reports of large skeletons and unusual tooth arrangement seem to be common in conjunction with finds of this charact
er.
History of Medina County, Ohio 1881
In digging the cellar of the house, nine human skeletons were found, and like such specimens from
other ancient mounds of the country. They showed that the mound builders were men of large stature. The skeletons were not found lying in such a manner as would indicate any arrangement of the bodies
on the part of entombers. In describing the tomb, Mr. Albert Harris said: “It looked as if the bodies had
been dumped into a ditch. Some were buried deeper than others, the lower one being about seven feet
below the surface. When the skeletons were found, Mr. Harris was twenty years of age, yet he states
that he could put one of the skulls over his head, and let it rest upon his shoulders, while wearing a fur
cap at the same time. The large size of all the bones was remarked, and the teeth were described as
“double all the way around.”
History of Hardin County, Ohio
Ancient Burial Mound and its Contents, Hardin County, Ohio, John B. Matson, M.D. to Judge John Barr, Cleveland, December 10, 1869
Dear Sir, --In the fall of 1856, in Hardin County, Ohio, near the Bellefontaine and Indiana Railway, between Mt. Victory and Ridgeway, I commenced removing a gravel bank for the purpose of ballasting a part of the above named railroad. I learned shortly after my arrival there, that the bank was an ancient burial ground. This information caused me to examine the ground, and note discoveries.
The mound covered an area of one and a half acres; being covered with an orchard of apple trees, then in bearing...The mound was what I would call double; the larger and higher part to the west. About two-thirds of the mound was embraced in this part. The eastern part, presenting the appearance of a smaller hill having been pressed against the other, leaving a depression between them of three or four feet, below the highest point of the smaller and five or six feet below a corresponding point of the larger.
On the north side of the eastern portion, under an oak tree stump (150 years old by growths) was the remains of the largest human bones I have ever seen. The joints of the vertebra seemed as large as those of a horse... I found in this part of the mound the remains of at least fifty children, under the age of eight years; some with two, others with four incisors; some with eight, and others with no teeth.
The Nephilim Chronicles: Fallen Angels in the Ohio Valley Page 9
