Where did Indians bury their dead in the hills of Appalachia?

[Mad Martigan]

I have no intention of digging in or around a Native American burial ground but I would like to find one or at least see one locally. I live in the eastern part of ky and I'm an avid outdoorsman but I've still never seen an indian burial site out in the woods. I've heard stories from locals that Indians buried their dead on ridge lines facing the east or maybe it was the west I don't remember?! I've also heard Indians would stack rocks up on their dead as a marker but I find this puzzling because out in the woods rocks aren't always so available. If anyone can share some knowledge please do I've always wondered about this. Thanks Adam

 

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[rock]

I really dont see the point in wanting to see a grave. Most buried their dead just as we do today. You can google it yourself and then hit view images. I myself if I think there is a chance I might see what might be a grave go away from it because I dont want any bad spirits in my life. But that is just me.

 

[Cl1983]

I've gone through a couple in California but it was usually with a tribal elder and they were fenced off on a college campus I worked on. We had to ok with the tribe to graze our cattle on it so the grass stayed dkwn

 

[GrizLeeBear]

I believe some of the Native Americans in that area were Mound Builders. I know that many years ago we used to read how many sites were "examined" by people from colleges and thus the sites disappeared. I know that many remains today are still in museum vaults and when the various Nations discover them they sue to have the remains returned for proper burial by custom.

 

[Cl1983]

I'd have been way to creeped out to do any disturbing or studying but there was an archeology class allowed to go on site as well and don't think they needed an escort. (Think the professor was a tribal member as well)

 

[NC field hunter]

Many burial methods can be seen throughout America. Some cultures built mounds, others dug graves just as we would today. I know of one burial site where graves are marked by a large rock and a small rock. The graves are all in one long row. Depending on spiritual and cultural views, grave sites can vary from region to region. A friend of mine is the chief of the Sappony tribe. He has told me about a grave site that had to be relocated, and was called in to assist in the removal. In the Sappony tribe, the position of the sun at the time of ones death determined which direction the deceased would lye. Positioning of the body also gave insight on cause of death. In my area, few mounds have been found. Most are just graves marked at head and foot by stone. Most are sitting on high ground around here as well.

 

[Mad Martigan]

Ive heard of the mound builders even seen some mounds towards the middle part of the state. In my area which is right in the hills I often wonder where they would've placed their dead. I imagine they didn't go to extremes of finding a great spot only because the hills would be treacherous to carry a body over.

 

[GatorBoy]

There is a very real possibility that the long term camps were not up in the mountains. those places would have been traveled to for purposes of gathering food. It's also quite possible if someone died up in the mountains the rest of the group would be tasked with preparing the remains.. probably by use of Fire.. for being transported in a bundle of long bones to a community burial site.

 

[GatorBoy]

This is the second thread basically about burial sites you have started in a total of 5 posts. It might just be me.. but this seems very questionable.