DISCOVER CHILD'S SKELETON IN SHELLMOUND ON CAMPUS
Near the spot where the skeleton of an Indian belonging to a prehistoric tribe was found by workmen digging a trench on the University grounds yesterday, the skeleton of a child was found this morning in a further investigation by Prof. J. C. Merriam of the department of palaeontology at the University. The skeleton was firmly embedded in the shell layer and was situated about 100 feet west of the first discovery.
Relative to the discovery, Professor Merriam says:
"In digging a trench along the south side of Strawberry creek near the Faculty club yesterday the University workmen cut through a deposit of clay mixed with sea-shells, bones and charcoal, which evidently represents an old Indian camp site. The shell bed is from one to two feet in thickness and extends for a known distance of nearly two hundred feet along the bank of Strawberry creek. The kinds of shells present include oysters, mussels and clams, all of which were used for food by some of the aboriginal tribes.
"In contact with the upper portion of the shell layer and about one foot below the surface, one of the work. men uncovered the complete skeleton of an adult lying on its side and with the knees drawn up toward the chest, as in many known shell-mound burials.
“The thickness of the shelly deposit indicates the occupation of this site as a dwelling place through a period amounting to many years. How long a time has elapsed since the site was occupied can only be conjectured, although some evidence is found in the fact that large tree roots passed through the skeleton.
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