Here are some links to old writings. The first is "A tour of four great rivers...the journal of Richard Smith" by Francis W. Halsey. It contains two references to burning.
Page 64
page 72
The second is from "History of Pittsburgh and environs" by George Thornton Fleming
page 19
Incidentally, Thomas Ashe "Travels in America" looks like fine reading as well.
Next are two different writings about some strange, ancient stone walls. First is from "American architect and architecture, Volume 11"
page 48
Second is "A New and Popular Pictorial Description of the United States" by John A. Lee & Co.
page 583
Remember that stone wall guy Thorson? I wonder if he is aware of these accounts.
ReplyDeleteWhat are the dates of these references?
ReplyDeleteThe one in American architect and architecture sounds like a misinterpretation of a geological formation.
The first was edited from Richard Smith's 1769 journal, the second - 1922 (the text doesn't appear when you click on the link, unless you click "clear search" in the upper right), the third (American architect) is from 1882, and the fourth is from 1876. Sorry about leaving those dates out.
ReplyDeleteI had to read the American architect article several times, but decided to include it only because it's so odd.
Thomas Ashe "Travels in America" is from 1806 and I think Laurel Hill Walks would find this book fascinating.
Thorson contends that pre-1620 there were no stone walls in one place but contradicts himself elsewhere in his writing by admitting there might be some crude ones of Native origin. Thorson's job security is sort of like that of State Archeologists: pound that myth about colonial only stone rows so that the building of Walmarts and McDonalds can continue unimpeded.
ReplyDeleteI've been inviting him to see the massive amount of stonework here where I live since they began talking about my road reconfiguration in 2005 or 2006.
He's very busy, perpertrating the myth and clearly not concerned about the truth.
http://wakinguponturtleisland.blogspot.com/2011/02/abundance-of-rareties.html or "Mr. Thorson look at These Walls"
ReplyDeleteInteresting Great Tree ref: "The white man's first title to the lands on the Susquehanna was acquired in 1684, when, in an offensive and defensive alliance, formed at Albany between the English and the Indians, the Indians, in a formal instrument signed and sealed, declared "we have given the Susquehanna river, which we won with the sword, to this government, and desire that it may be a branch of the Great Tree which grows in this place, the top of which reaches the sun." It does not appear that the Indians intended this as a conveyance of all right and title, but rather as part of a treaty of alliance with the English, they still retaining the right to live and hunt on the river." from page lvii, the quoted Indian declaration from " Documentary History of the State of New York."
ReplyDeleteIn "Travels in America" the author writes about mounds and tumuli starting on page 126. If you keep reading past the story about the rattlesnake and the turkeys and continue onto page 131, he writes about barrows and then on pages 132 to 133 he writes about a structure he found underground which he thought was a sepulchre, but found no body. Instead he and his party found "ball(s) of mixed gold". I won't spoil the ending...it's on page 134.
ReplyDeleteJust great research work!
ReplyDelete