Historical gazetteer and biographical memorial of Cattaraugus County, . double barbs composed of masses ofnative copper; also several blocks of mica, which were in about the same con-dition as when chiseled from the granite of the mountains. It was near this valley where was found one of the most interesting relicsever discovered among the works of the ancient inhabitants. It was a fiatpiece of native copper, inches in length by four in width, artisticallywrought, with the form of an elephant represented in harness engraved uponit, and a sort of breast collar, with tugs on either side
Historical gazetteer and biographical memorial of Cattaraugus County, . double barbs composed of masses ofnative copper; also several blocks of mica, which were in about the same con-dition as when chiseled from the granite of the mountains. It was near this valley where was found one of the most interesting relicsever discovered among the works of the ancient inhabitants. It was a fiatpiece of native copper, inches in length by four in width, artisticallywrought, with the form of an elephant represented in harness engraved uponit, and a sort of breast collar, with tugs on either side which extended pastthe hips. The great amount of copper implements and blocks of mica that have beenfound contradicts the theory of Mr. Squire, that the tumuli situated in westernNew York are not the work of the Mound Builders. I am satisfied, beyonda doubt, that the Indian races never mined for mica or copper, neither didthey bury either of these articles with the remains of their distinguished Mound Builders, for a long period of time, made the great lakes a. Traces of the Mound Builders. 17 liighway of travel and transported the copper mined at Lake Superior to thenorthern borders of Lake Erie, thence by land to the Cassadaga lake and downthe creek to which it gives rise, to its junction with the Conewango. Thecircumstance of the Conewango and Red House valleys being on and near thedifferent routes to the southern rivers, may be the cause of the lavish distribu-tion of copper in those sections. Among the remarkable relics found in the vicinity of this last mentionedwork, may be included an image chiseled from gray sandstone, which, forartistic design and elaborate workmanship, will compare favorably with mod-ern art. It is given life-size, and, no doubt, was designed to represent the formof head and face of the people then living. I have spent, with uncommon sat-isfaction, many hours in examining this wonderful specimen of ancient head and features have a b
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidhistoricalga, bookyear1893
