File:Indians of Manhattan Island and vicinity - (1921) (14598059440).jpg

Identifier: indiansofmanhatt00skin_0 (find matches)
Title: Indians of Manhattan Island and vicinity /
Year: 1921 (1920s)
Authors: Skinner, Alanson, 1886-1925.
Subjects: Manhattan Indians Indians of North America
Publisher: (New York) : American Museum of Natural History
Contributing Library: Columbia University Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: The Durst Organization

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ection, were found to have served as a covering forthe skeleton of a dog or wolf. Another burial was found on May 18thwithin fifty yards of the first burial. It had been covered with shellsjust as the first one, but had been disturbed by workmen. Mr. Calversays: The two canine burials were situated at a point just without theborders of the Harlem River shell-heap and were distinct from it. Theshells were found to be matched, hence it was concluded that they werethrown in unopened or eaten on the spot. ,As the skeletons were intact iRuttenber, pp. 77-78. FXDIAXS OF MAXIIATTAX ISLAXI) 57 and the bones uninjured, all probability of the animals having been eatenis disposed of. These burials are common in 11ns vicinity; Mr. Carverthinks they were for some religious purpose, and suggests m relation to i heWhite Dog Feast of the Onondaga of this state.1 Eowever, n isknown that the carcass of the sacrificed dog was burnt by the (roqUoisand the explanation given on page 46 is probably correct.
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INDIAN BURIAL, MANHATTAN Indian Burials. Notwithstanding all the efforts of various col-lectors, the first Indian burials to be discovered on the Island were due tothe activities of Messrs. Bolton and Calver in 1904. The improvementof Seaman Avenue, Inwood, at thai time, uncovered many relics of thelong extinct Indian inhabitants, among which Mr. Bolton saw unmis-takable signs of Indian graves. To quote from this gentleman: Itthus became evident that there were human interments in the vicinity,and in August. 1907. the first burial was discovered under a shell pit inCorbetts garden. The grading process had been extended only abouteighteen inches below t he sod, but had sufficed to dest my t he jaw of t he iNew York Herald, May 26, 1 B9& 58 AMERICAN MUSEUM GUIDE LEAFLETS skeleton which extended upwards, as did also the foot bones. The boneslay in and upon a close mass of oyster shells, some of which were un-opened. The skeleton reclined on its right side, facing west. The armswere f

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