The Archaeology of the Yakima ValleySmith, Harlan Ingersoll
History
The Archaeology of the Yakima Valley
Smith, Harlan Ingersoll
Yakima River Valley (Wash.) -- Antiquities
99-4323. A skeleton of a child found in a very much
decomposed condition. Some of the bones showed
anchylosis. The skull was found in the southwest of the
grave with part of the pelvis, two humerii and a scapula.
The rest of the skeleton was scattered, the lower jaw
being in the northwest corner of the grave with the
femora, tibiae and fibulae. The skull faced northeast and
rested on the occiput.
202-8190. Bone point found at the side of the skull.
* * * * *
99-4324. See grave No. 27.
* * * * *
Grave No. 25. Eglin stone grave located in a volcanic ash
knoll left behind by wind and surrounded by 'scab land'
on the bottom land about 18 miles up and west of North
Yakima or nearly to Tampico, Yakima County, and on the
north side of the river road, but east of the north and
south branch road which is east of Mr. Sherman Eglin's
place; about 600 feet north of the north branch of the
Ahtanum river and about 15 feet above the water level.
Over the grave was a stone heap of angular basalt about
8 feet in diameter. At a depth of 3 feet, after finding
stones all the way down, was a cyst (Negative, nos.
44498, 5-11 and 44499, 5-12, reproduced in Plate X, from
the same station looking east), made up of slabs
averaging 2 inches in maximum thickness with thin sharp
edges about 2 feet by 18 inches and smaller. There were
two such cover stones, some at the sides and ends.
Sometimes two or three such slabs were found parallel or
overlapping. There were no slabs or floor below the
skeleton. This grave resembled very much the stone graves
of Ohio and Kentucky except that the slabs were not of
limestone and there was a pile of rocks over the stone
cyst. Numbers 99-4321, and 202-8191 to 202-8195 were
found in this grave.
99-4321. In the cyst about on a level with the lower
edges of the enclosing slabs was the skeleton of a child
about six years old with head west, face north, and the
knees flexed on the left side. The skull was slightly
deformed by occipital pressure (Plate X).
202-8191. Horizontally under the vertebrae was found an
engraved slab of antler in the form of a costumed human
figure with the engraved surface up (Fig. 121).
202-8192. Dentalium shells were found under the body,
from the neck to the pelvis.
202-8193. Ten engraved dentalium shells (Fig. 117).
202-8194. A bit of bone.
202-8195. Charcoal found in this grave.
The grave (No. 25) and its contents seem to antedate the
advent of the white race in this region or at least show
no European influence.
* * * * *
99-4322 to 99-4323. See graves nos. 22 to 24.
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account