Indian Burial Mound At Muncy Farms

The Indian Mound Excavation At Muncy Farms, 1936

In A Chronology Of The Brock Site By Walter Weaver, he notes that Samuel Wallis was aware of the significance of the mound, referring to it as his "Indian Grave".

In 1936 the Pennsylvania Historical Commission announced that an archeological expedition on the H.G. Brock Farm (Muncy Farms)  uncovered the most ancient Indian mound which had been found in Pennsylvania.

Dudley Martin told Henry Shoemaker, for a 1936 article, that "The great Indian mound at Hall's Station below Williamsport is not a 'virgin' but was browsed  and combed over by collectors fifty years ago [abt 1886], and the best specimens taken. The first time the mound was actually opened was during the time of the Philadelphia Centennial in 1876, when one of the zealous disciples of Gall and Spurghein desirous of exhibiting the skull of a full fledged Indian chief, opened the mout,d picked over the skulls until he found one with the proper cranial development to indicate leadership.  That skull, on a shelf beside the skull of an anthropoid ape, was next to Jake Zerkowers mounted wolf group, a sensation at the exhibition....

Ground hogs were the first to uncover the  treasures of the mound at Halls.  Their burrowing was always rutting out something of interest.  one year they threw out a lot of bones with looked as if they had been buried with some red substance like iron.  Another year they favorited me with the finest pipe I have in my collection. "

"While digging near Muncy, the workers came across a rare find - a thunderbird altar, one of three ever uncovered in Northeast U.S.  Indians believed this giant bird carried a lake on its back from which is spilled water in the form of rain; that a flash of its eyes produced lightening and that the slapping wings made thunder" - Pittsburg Press, 1937

According to the 1936 report, the mound was at least 1,000 years old, and could be as much as 2,000 years old.  The mound was used by an ancient Algonkian tribe, possessing an advanced culture, for a burying place.  There as also evidence that is had been used at one time as a pantheon for worship of Indian gods.

Twenty four skeletons of ancient Indians buried in a ceremonial mound on the banks of the Susquehanna River, were carefully uncovered and studied.  The skeletons were discovered beneath the roots of a large tree in the center of the mound.  They had been buried in a flexed position, and with them were recovered objects of unquestionably ancient origin.

"Two pottery pipes, shaped like large curved cigar holders, were found clutched in the hands of their owner. These pipes are of an unusual form and were probably copied after the stone tubes used for smoking by the Indians before they learned the art of angular pipe making.

 Two ceremonial gorgets made of slate were found associated with skeletons for the first time in archaeological history. For years it has been known that these objects were used by the mound builders of Ohio for some undetermined purpose. The discovery indicates that the builders of the mound on the Brock farm were probably of similar stock and period.

 Several large, beautifully chipped stone blades, of a form hitherto unknown in the eastern United States, were recovered by the diggers. The blades are made of chert, petaloid in form, and measure about four inches in length. A number of stone containers in which colored paints were found indicate that these redskins were not without vanity. A beautifully carved white marble cup also was uncovered.

A number of pottery sherds, which later will be assembled into vessels, were scattered throughout the mound. These vessels had been made by the coil method, and were decorated by rolling a cord-wrapped stick upon them before they were fired. The use of this method and the shape of the vessels indicates to the archaeologists that their makers were Indians with an Algonkian cultural horizon. 

The Bronze Age skeletons found in the tumult of the British Isles are in a much better state of preservation as a whole than those found in the Brock mound under similar conditions. However, under the. circumstances, it is reasonable to believe that these are at least as ancient, Cadzow said in a report to Frank W. Melvin, chairman of the Pennsylvania Historical Commission.

 In the central part of the mound two ceremonial altars built of fire burned stone were uncovered. These indicate that the mound was probably used as a place of worship to  pantheon of Indian gods. Similar altars have recently been discovered at Athens. Pennsylvania, and at Levanna, New York.

 The excavations In this region, being done by WPA labor, will be continued until late fall. At present, excavations are being made in an effort to locate remains of old Fort Muncy, which was erected in 1778 by Captain Andrew Walker, and was destroyed by British soldiers and Indians in 1779, If sufficient remains of the fort can be uncovered to determine the plan of the structure it will be restored as a historical marker. A geo physical machine, which employs a radio beam to locate metal to a depth of seven feet in the ground, is being used in this work in the hope of locating  old cannon and guns on the site of the fort." Selinsgrove Times Tribune, 1936

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Human Effigy Found Near Brock Village

"It was excavated near the Brock Village Site near Muncy, PA. This village was associated with the Brock Burial Mound, however, the effigy was not found within the confines of that mound.

Notice the eyes, made from freshwater pearls and expertly set in the clay effigy. The features on the face are etched and carved beautifully and holes were drilled in the perimeter of the skull to accommodate feathers. Archaeologists know this because feather residue was found in those holes. "

https://www.pennarchaeology.com/2017/04/rare-native-american-human-face-effigy.html

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Stories & History Of Muncy PA

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2021/03/muncy-pennsylvania.html

For More Stories and History From Surrounding Towns:

https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/p/history.html

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As early as 1920, the Miltonian reported that an Indian burial ground was located on the farm, "from which some of the most interesting Indian relics obtained in this part of the state have been taken.".  In 1936, newspapers throughout the state were writing about the finds at the mound.

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Oldest Indian Mound Susquehanna River Valley at Muncy Reveals 1,000-Year-Old Burial Area of Ancient Red Men Donald A. Cadzow, State Archaeologist, today announced that a Pennsylvania Historical Commission archaeoiogiecal expedition, while excavating a mound on the H. G. Brock farm at Halls Station, near Muncy, in the valley of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, uncovered the most ancient Indian mound which has been found in Pennsylvania. This mound is at least 1.000 years old and may be more than 2.000 years old, Cadzow said. He added that it is probably the most important archaeological discovery ever made in Pennsylvania and may be of considerable importance in the future writing of the chronological table of man'? inhabitation of this country. 

The mound was used by an ancient Algonkian tribe, possessing an advanced culture, for a burying place. There was also evidence that it had been used at one time as a pantheon for worship of Indian gods. Under the direction of Mr. Harry, Schorr, archaeologist in charge of the excavation, twenty-four skeletons of ancient Indians, burled in a ceremonial mound on the banks of the Susquenanna River, were carefully uncovered and studied. The skeletons were discovered beneath the roots of a large tree in the center of the mound. They had been buried in a flexed position, and with them were recovered objects of unquestionably ancient origin. 

Two pottery pipes, shaped like large curved cigar holders, were found clutched in the hands of their owner. These pipes are of an unusual form and were probably copied after the stone tubes used for smoking by the Indians before they learned the art of angular pipe making.

 Two ceremonial gorgets made of slate were found associated with skeletons for the first time in archaeological history. For years it has been known that these objects were used by the mound builders of Ohio for some undetermined purpose. The discovery indicates that the builders of the mound on the Brock farm were probably of similar stock and period.

 Several large, beautifully chipped stone blades, of a form hitherto unknown in the eastern United States, were recovered by the diggers. The blades are made of chert, petaloid in form, and measure about four inches in length. A number of stone containers in which colored paints were found indicate that these redskins were not without vanity. A beautifully carved white marble cup also was uncovered.

A number of pottery sherds, which later will be assembled into vessels, were scattered throughout the mound. These vessels had been made by the coil method, and were decorated by rolling a cord-wrapped stick upon them before they were fired. The use of this method and the shape of the vessels indicates to the archaeologists that their makers were Indians with an Algonkian cultural horizon. 

The Bronze Age skeletons found in the tumult of the British Isles are in a much better state of preservation as a whole than those found in the Brock mound under similar conditions. However, under the. circumstances, it is reasonable to believe that these are at least as ancient, Cadzow said in a report to Frank W. Melvin, chairman of the Pennsylvania Historical Commission.

 In the central part of the mound two ceremonial altars built of fire burned stone were uncovered. These indicate that the mound was probably used as a place of worship to  pantheon of Indian gods. Similar altars have recently been discovered at Athens. Pennsylvania, and at Levanna, New York.

 The excavations In this region, being done by WPA labor, will be continued until late fall. At present, excavations are being made in an effort to locate remains of old Fort Muncy, which was erected in 1778 by Captain Andrew Walker, and was destroyed by British soldiers and Indians in 1779, If sufficient remains of the fort can be uncovered to determine the plan of the structure it will be restored as a historical marker. A geo physical machine, which employs a radio beam to locate metal to a depth of seven feet in the ground, is being used in this work in the hope of locating  old cannon and guns on the site of the fort.

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A PHRENOLOGIST WAS THE FIRST TO ABSTRACT AN INNDIANS SKULL FROM THE GREAT MOUND AT HALL'S STATION YEARS AGO

 "There is nothing new under the sun," remarked the venerable Dudley A. Martin, for over seventy years collector of Indian relics, the other day. The great Indian mound at 'Hail's Station, below Williamsport, Is not a Virgin' but was browsed and combed over by collectors fifty years ago and the best specimens taken. The first time the mound was actually opened was during the time of the Philadelphia Centennial in 1876, when one of the ealous disciple of Gall and Spurzheini, desirous of exhibiting the skull of a full-fledged Indzian chief, opened the mound, picked over the skulls until be found one with the proper cranial development to indicate leadership. That skull, on a shelf beside the skull of an anthropoid ape, was next to Jake Zerkower's mounted wolf group, a sensation of the Exposition. 'General Grant stood transfixed to see the cranium of a war-lord of ancient days. In reality ground hogs were the first to uncover the treasures of the mound at Halls. Their burrowing was always turning out something of interest. One year they threw out a lot of bones which looked as If they had been buried with some red substance like iron. Another year they favored me with the finest pipe I have in my collection. Yet the finest Indian pipe In the West Branch Valley, found on the Isaac Packer farm, near Lock Haven, is lost, though I possess four sketches of it When Mr. Packer reluctantly consented to his tenant farmer's Importunities to plough through the mound, two perfect Indian pipes were turned out and brcght to the noted landowner. One he gave to "Big Jim Jeffers. a power in Clinton county politics in t'.'.ose days, while the other was retained by Mr. Packer. I was allowed to make four sketches ' Mr. Pack er's specimen wh'-h I have pre served, but the pipe has disappeared. The pipe I discovered in the mound at Hall's is made of clay, but of very curious design. I also found the '-t stone with the inscriptions on it. re-buried it in the mound. In principle I am opposed to opening Indian's graves, which should be left alone as we would like bones left alone in the years to come. "I have been reading that Mr. L. W. Carson, of Fallonfield, has found one of the largest Indian cvDur.ds yet discovered in southwestern Pennsylvania. This mound is what Indian collectors call a turtle back,' marking as belonging to the Lenni-Lenape. Possibly it is the long-searched for burial place of the Leiini-Lenape war chief, on Pigeon Creek, mentioned prominently in the earliest history of Washington county and then lost sight of for two-thirds of a century. Road-wideners have located the mound, but for a time the exact spot was kept a secret waiting for the Historical Commission experts to be rushed to the spot from Harrisburg. There are also Indian burial altars in Pennsylvania, like were recently discovered at Lake Mills, in Wisconsin. No doubt sacrifices were made on the. altars in dry years, when the waters were so low that they were available for that purpose. In Pennsylvania these altars are mostly found on mountain tops.-notably in the Bald Eagle range which extends from Muncy to Hol-lidaysburg, but is called 'Brush mountain' we?tward from Tyrone. "Probably there were sacrifices made for drought, but most of the victims wert slaughtered to propitiate the War Deities, as the Pennsylvania Indians never showed any pacifist leanings. In the very' early days of the Hall's mound, the farmer who owned it would not allow his ploughmen to go through it and it was only through the intermediary of the ground hogs that collectors were able to obtain specimens." One of Mr. Martin's friends de clared that in his boyhood days the vicinity of Fort Muncy, near the mouth of Hall's, was reputed to be haunted. "It was a dark and bloodv ground." he averred, "when the red men fought every inch of the way against the inroads of the white settlers. Ind: ns were so dangerous that Samuel Wallis, the landowner, would not allow trees to be planted around his mansion for fear Indians would lurk behind them. Indian md white mingled their blood and there are some terrible stories which never got into history. Yet the historians knew them and preferred to use 'discrimination' in writing their chronicles- That is where folklore comes in to preserve wha? historians felt ought not to be recorded." it nebula. it a a a in Twenty in a Of in I