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Subject: [NYSUFFOL] Shinnecock reservation 1876
Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2001 11:07:20 EDT

BROOKLYN DAILY UNION, 17 JULY 1876

Some of the Indian graves on the Shinnecock reservation, Long Island,
supposed to be the oldest there, were opened a few days since. The
remains of two braves were found, and with them a curious assortment of
articles, some of which were of considerable value. Among them were
wampum enough to make a string about two feet long, a stone pestle,
glass bottles of peculiar shape, a copper kettle with iron frame and
handle, a gun band, and a small brass box, shaped like a case of an
old-fashioned bull's eye, but larger, containing about twenty Roman
silver coins of comparatively modern date, abut the size of an old
shilling piece, on one or two of which the figures 1670 were
legible---proving, as do the other articles, that the graves are not so
ancient as had been supposed. The skulls and some bones were found in a
position to show that the bodies had been buried in a horizontal, not a
sitting posture. It is doubtful whether further search will be made at
present, as considerable indignation is expressed by many of the
Shinnecock tribe at what they deem a sacreligious invasion of the tombs
of their ancestors. It is probable that the relics will be placed in
the muesum of the Long Island Historical Society.

Transcribed by Marilyn Wright for the Bklyn Info Pages
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~blkyn/Bklyn.Info.Page.html

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