James E. Wallace gives report of findings as excavations progressed and described how relics were placed.....Pipe regarded as one of most valuable records that was found during course of excavations during summer..

....The Brooke County Historical society held a particularly interesting session on last evening at the Elks Club in Wellsburg An outstanding feature of the meeting was the description and results of the excavations made during the past summer of the prehistoric mound at Beech Bottom, given my James E. Wallace.

....Mr. Wallace in part said: "In the level river bottom land now owned by the Wheeling Steel Corporation, at a point about 200 feel from the eastern bank of the Ohio River and directly west of stop 49, Beech Bottom, Brooke County, West Virginia stands the remains of an artificial pre-historic mound. This mound, when it was first built, was probably (1) 30 feet high and (2) 70 feet in diameter at its base. Up until the year of 1930 time and elements, coupled with some promiscuous attacks of men, had worn away this monument of by-gone days til its height was only about 15 feet above the bottom level. Its greatest diameter remained at about 70 feet.

WHO BUILT THE MOUND?

"Who built it, will long remain conjecture. (3) Some say the Indians some say the Mound Builders, a race of giants who preceded the Indians. When was it built? That too is a question about which we are just as uncertain as to who built it. (4)

RELICS TO PHILADELPHIA

"In the year 1930, Mr. D.H. Wagner of Wheeling secured a grant from the Wheeling Steel corporation, whereby the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, Pa would send four archaeologists to direct the work of excavating the ground and the Steel corporation were to furnish the necessary labor. All findings were to be taken back to Philadelphia by the archaeologist for study and charting, after which the greater portion were to be returned to Wheeling. It has been proposed that they be placed on permanent exhibition at Oglebay park. it is probable that this will be done.

...."On or about July 3, 1930, excavation was started. The laborers were started with a trench about 3 feet wide and 3 feet deep, beginning at a point in the bottom about 25 feet away from what appeared to be the base of the mound. (5)

MAKING EXCAVATION

"As the trench approached the center of the mound and deepened, it was stepped up to avoid deep digging. A circle about 15 feet in diameter was described around the center of the mound and all the dirt included, together with about one-third of the area of the whole mouth in the shape of a piece of pie, located on the river side of the mound, was lowered about 6 inches at a time down to the original ground level.

...This dirt was loosened up at places with the spade, sometimes with a hand trowel, and at particular points, with a knife and whisk broom. The loose dirt was pitched aside with a spade and from there it was removed with a scoop and team of horses. (6)

...When about half way down in the mound, large and irregular shapes of real rich, black dirt were found. Whether these were the remains of wooden tools, blankets, pet animals or just rich earth deposited separately we do not know. However, it was in these spots that most of the relics were found.

RELICS FOUND

These relics consisted of the following: A bird stone, shaped like a bird (found near the mound), flint chips, dart heads, arrow heads, spear heads, working clets and tomahawks made of flint rock; and pipes, tubes, pendant ornaments, paint pots and stones, all made of pipe stone; and last of all the skeleton of the chief, which was found in a clay tomb, lined on the inside with what looked to have been (7) bark. The body was found at the bottom of this yellow (8) pit about four feet below the original level of the ground. Some three feet or four feet above the body were found other large bones, including a large jaw tooth possibly that of a (9) deer or horse. These bones crumbled when opened to the air, and were preserved in parafin as soon as they were excavated.

...The human skeleton at the bottom of the pit, in my opinion, considering the duration of time since burial, was in very good shape. The lower jaw, including the teeth, was perfect. Across the chest was a string of shell beads.

Each shell was about one inch in diameter and two inches to three inches long. Around the neck and across the body was the remains of a long copper strand of beads. The feet were wrapped up completely with many long strands of shell disc beads. There were about one gallon of these and size of a washer for a sink or lavatory faucet. As one looked upon this skeleton, one would imagine it was that of a giant,but actual measurement showed it to be less than six feet in length and only of ordinary build.

RELICS WITH SKELETON

Most of the relics found were in the burial vault with the skeleton. Many of the pipes and tubes were broken. it was evident that they were only broken parts when deposited there since the necessary part to complete the whole were nowhere to be found. (10)

..."Possibly the most valuable relic found was a pipe made with a bowl the same as one of today and with a hollow stem or flat base which not only extended about two and one-half inches toward the mouth end but also two and one-half inches out in an opposite direction. This end, however, was not hollow. It was made of one piece of soapstone and was practically mechanically perfect. However, one end was broken by the spade in excavation. This was found by F.D. Echols near the top of the mound in the portion not moved by the Archaeologists. It was found while Echols was engaged in restoring the mound to a semblance of its original shape.

FORMER SHAFT

"While the excavation was in progress, a cross section of the dirt showed that a shaft had been sunk in the center of the mound to a depth , or to a point about four feet above the original level of the ground. It is said that this opening was made by a former owner of the ground. Mr. T.J. Miller, about the year 1900, and that nothing of much importance was found by him. (11)

..."The mound has been only in a measure put back into its original shape. The East side, facing West Virginia State Highway Route No. 2, shows little or no evidence of the excavation, except that its height has been flattened and lowered to a height of only (12) ten or twelve feet. The loose dirt on the West side has been put back in place.

..."But alas, while there still might yet remain some few relics in the unexplored portions, its main secret which was its treasure, has been revealed. It is gone. No more does this mound reign in all its majesty through generation after generation it is still here - yet it is gone. Just a pile of dirt remains...It is, as Lowell said of the man, "When faith is lost, when honor dies, the man is dead." The Mound at Beech Bottom....

ADDENDUM:

Today, June 3, 1997 - I received this story from Keith Donley of Wellsburg, WV. The records on these pages are about the same, as my original story - with some additions that need to be made.

I have made these additions, with notes on the original story as to where the information should be inserted.

(1) This mound, when it was first built, was probably 35 feet high and 75 feet in diameter at its base.....

(2) ....days till its height was only about 20 feet. Its greatest diameter remained at about 75 feet.

(3) Why was it built? Do we know the answer to this query? Yes, we are positive it was built as a shrine for a Chief of some departed race. Are we positive it was man-made and not a work or oddity of nature? Yes, subsequent excavation has shown conclusively by its findings that the mound was built by a race of men who preceded the advent of the White Man.

(4) In a recent address at the Oglebay Park by Dr H.C. Shetrone, Director of the Ohio Archaeological & Historical Society, it was stated that the Mound Builders were surely derived from the Mongoloid races which crossed over Bering Strait into America between 10,000 and 20,000 years ago. It is probable so he thinks, that the Indians found here by the while men were descendants of this first race. Dr Shetrone continued, it seems sure, from the exploration of mounds, that the first mounds were built in the south of this continent and from there later spread east and north.

(5) The trench was driven on a level directly toward the center of the mound. By observing the strata of earth along the sides of the trench, the original level of the ground was distinguished from the deposit which erosion had brought from the mound and deposited on top of it.

(6) At all elevations and at various locations were found relics of the builders. The dirt from around these was sometimes removed with a camel's hair brush, and pen points. Locations, elevations, pictures and description of each of these was noted by the Archaeologist in charge. The different layers of earth were observed at all stages and it was found that at one stage the mound had a concave center, shaped on top, we might say, like a saucer. The outer edges of the mound at this stage were about 12 feet high and at the center, the mound was only about 7 feet high. The mound itself was built of a sandy loam, and this saucer was lined with about 3 inches of 4 inches of yellow clay. Other layers and patches of clay were found in different parts of the mound, but this was the only regular lining or formation. In the bottom of this so-called saucer or bowl were found residues of charcoal, perhaps the remains of council fires or ceremonial rites.

(7) ....lined on the inside with what looked to have been Oak bark.

(8) ....at the bottom of this clay pit...

(9)....including a large jaw tooth, possibly that of a bear or horse

(10) In regard to the relics found throughout the mound, many were found in groups of three or five. At one place, there were five spear points, each about as long as one's index finger and spread flat-wise and lying in relation to one another as the spread fingers of one's hand. At the center was a chunk of Red Ochre, Indian paint. Red Ochre was found in many places in the mound. Another group of three spear points was placed edgewise and jammed closely against each other. At another place in the mound, under an arrow head, was found some graphite. We are told that the nearest natural deposit of graphite is in New York State. If that be so, the builders of this mound must have been wide travelers, or else traded with a tribe from what is now the State of New York.

(11) The time required for the excavation of the above described part of the mound (the remainder, except on top has still never been disturbed) was a few days more than one month. Although every effort was made to keep all news of his work out of the papers and away from the public, after the second week's work, it was necessary to keep a night watchman on the job. After the discovery of the skeleton, the visitors numbered from 300 to 400 persons a day. The cost of the excavation amounted to approximately $500.00. This does not include any salaries or expenses of the four Archaeologists who were sent here by the University of Pennsylvania.

The party was composed of the following from the University of Pennsylvania:

Mr & Mrs. Linton Satterthwaite
Mr. Charles Bache
Miss Helen Butler

The local people who worked on the mound were F.D. Echols, John Scherich, Densel Dye, David Campbell, Jr., John Knepshield, John Amplats, Patsy Sasso, J.C. Corron, Tom Ryan, Wallace Pfeffer and Carl O'Brinar.

On August 5, 1930, the Archaeologists left with their collection for the University of Pennsylvania. But their work was not over. In reality, it has just begun. From the items of this collection, their copious notes, drawings, measurements and pictures, and with the help of the writings and findings made by others, they must piece together, re-construct and re-build the story of the ages. At this time, their report has not been completed.

There is another mound somewhat smaller than this one, about 1/2 mile northeast of this mound. It is situated upon the first plateau east of Stop #51 and within 50 feet of the former D.A. Burt residence. Just why these sites were selected for the mounds, no one seems to know.

(12) ....except that is height has been flattened and lowered to a height of only 12 feet or 13 feet.....

(Note, the T.J. Miller referred to here was one of the sons of Robert Miller who built the home that stands today, next door to the church here in Beech Bottom. T.J. Miller owned the land "over in the bottom" and had it layed out in lots, to develop - he called this Millervale.)