Bintz Burials

 

 

 

“Fort Ancient” Burials at the Bintz Village were often placed in the corner of their homes. These Burials are only a few inches to about a foot below the present day ground surface. The top two photos are of Burial 1 that was excavated in June 1973 as part of the first Northern Kentucky University field school. Just below the ground surface and just above the skeleton are a number of fresh water mussel (clam) shells some of which can be seen in the upper left photo. The upper right photo is the skeleton (Burial 1) of a middle aged male who seemed to have died of natural causes. Near his right ankle can be seen a mussel shell spoon. The lower left picture shows a rib cage that is eroding out of the river bank and was taken after a large flood in the Spring of 1966 after the next flood the bones were gone and others were being exposed as the river bank was being eroded away. The photo of the double burial (Burial 2 and Burial 3 excavated in June 1973 as part of the first Northern Kentucky University field school) shows two females who were in their late teens when they died or were ritually killed. The upper rib cage bones were burned possibly as part of a new fire ceremony. Also an antler spear point was found imbedded in one of the women and in the other was a triangle “Fort Ancient" point which were probably the cause of death.

 

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