Anglo Saxon Skull Found in an Adena Burial Mound in Fairfield County, Ohio
There is quite a difference between Native American skull types and those of Caucasians. European skulls are long, while those of Native Americans are short and broad.
1888 History of Fairfield and Perry Counties Ohio The most thorough and successful examination conducted in the
county was by Professor E. B. Andrews, some two or three years
before his death, in the autumn of 1880, at Lancaster. The mound was
situated near Greencastle, in Bloom township. He employed work-
men, and went through and to the bottom of it. The only discovery
made was a large quantity of human bones at the base and center of
the mound. The bones were chiefly those of the head and face, the
long bones having almost entirely disappeared. The specimens to
which the attention of the writer was invited, at the residence of the
Professor, consisted of teeth and portions of the superior and inferior
maxillary bones, and bones of the head and face, with, also, a few
fragments of the cervical vertebrae. There was one entire skull, and
several whole and half jaw bones, still retaining the teeth in their sockets.
There were, likewise, a large number of teeth disconnected with the
jaws. Most of the bones and teeth were entirely perfect in form, but
seemed to be disintegrating from exposure to the open air.
In the anatomy and general structure of the teeth and jaw bones, as
well as those of the cranium, there were no perceptible differences from
those of the Anglo Saxon race. The teeth were sound, though some
of them were from the jaws of very aged persons, as indicated by the
wearing away from attrition. There were, also, the usual signs on the
necks and fangs of old teeth, showing the absorption of the alveolar
bones which form the sockets of the teeth ; and even incrustations of
tartar, or lime, still adhering to the necks of the teeth, precisely as the
dentist of the present day finds the situation in the mouths of his
patients. In one or two cases the teeth were cupped, or worn down, in
some instances to the very margins of the alveolar sockets, and show-
ing the same glossy and smooth faces now seen in the mouths of people.
In the aggregate there were near a half bushel of these specimens. The
Professor subsequently sent them to some institution of learning.
Regarding all the circumstances, it seemed probable that they must have
been the teeth and bones of the veritable mound builders, as the
Indians would scarcely have penetrated to the center of the mound to
deposit their dead. Besides, the Indian custom of burying has been
known to be superficial, or near the surface.
