The Mound Builders.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4320, 4 November 1882, Page 2

The Mound Builders.

The following is, a summary of a very interesting paper read at the last meeting of the Mutual Improvement Association, by Mr James Adams, B.A.:—-

la clearing the forests in Ohio and^ other neighboring States there were continually'laid bare hills varying in height from 10 feet to 70 feet—so perfect in shape that they looked like works of art, but^since forest trees grew on them that showed five and six hundred years of growth, and other trees equally large lay mouldering around, no one was bold I enough to suppose that the mounds had been formed by man. The mounds were then left undisturbed until the necessity of making a road through one of them showed that they were works of art. On tho outer surface there was a layer of sand two or three feet thick, then a layer of

stones, then of shells and 30 on, alter nately to the bottom, when a skeleton was found under six inches of hardened clay. Cloth and pottery and copper axe heads and flint.arrow heads are also found in the mounds. These mounds are not few in number ; -there are at least 10,000 in the State of Ohio/and as many in Missouri, and they exist from the great lakes, to the Gulf of Mexico.

I wish to point out that by the aid of the spade and shovel aloue wo have undoubted proof of the existence of a powerful people, of which the Indians had not even a tradition.

The mounds are classified into sepulchral mounds, temple mounds, and mounds that bear a resemblance to some animal, and are therefore called animal mounds.

There is no difference in appearance between those that contain human remains and those that are mere earth mounds, as was mentioned before, they vary in height from 70 feet, and 1000 feet.round to two or three feet round, and 20 feet round the base. They generally occur in groups., A remarkable thing with regard to a mound at Vincennes is that the sand of which it is partly composed must have been brought from some distance as there is nothing like it in the immediate neighborhood, and it is the same case with the other mounds in that, neighborhood. •

The first regular exploration of the mounds was made by Mr Goss, at Davenport ; he examined fourteen of those mounds that stood on laud that was under cultivation for 20 years. One mound was about Bft high and 100 ft in circumference. The outer layer was earth, then came a layer of stones, then shells, and then ashes. Below these layers was another band of hardened clay and beneath a skeleton. At the feet of the skeleton stood an altar of stones four feet high, as shown in the section. The stones show evident marks of fire, but the bones are not charred. The skeletons were not complete, nor has a complete skeleton yet been found in any mound, but very often the bones are found huddled together as if scraped. Two thigh bones were on the top of this altar d%d some bones stood up beside the altar. There were also .pieces of charcoal.

Under a layer of shells 6in thick, were two broken earthenware pots, a beautifully formed stone pipe, a flint arrow head, and some whetstones/ Four . feet further south was a skeleton lying east and west, with a copper axe near the dkull. There was also found a circular piece of human cranium, one inch in diameter, that appeared to have been used to trepan one of the skulls.

A large number of mounds have been now examined, and many articles dis interred. From a comparison of the bones of the mound builder with those oF modern men some idea of his appearance can be conceived. The mound builder was about middle height, and of rather slender build. The head was smalland broad. The brain was remarkably small ; one was contained in a space of 56 inches, whereas the savage Indian has en average capacity of 84 inches, and the minimum is 69 inches. The brain power must have been in the superior quality, and, not -in the quantity. There was no apelike appearance, but the skull was observed to present a peculiar oblong form, that must have arisen from keeping the head in one position. This has been observed to be the case with archers who constantly used the bow.

The clothing of the mound builder was of coarse cloth woven from a kind of flax, that was no doubt the same as that used by the Aztecs iv Mexico. As the threads both of the warp and the woof, were twisted, it is possible that machinery may have been used for this purpose. The .weapons used were the bow and arrow and the spear.

The only metals found are silver and copper. The copper was very extensively worked, and in a very creditable manner. In Isle Royale, in Lake Superior, old workings were found, where they obtained the copper ore not only by open workings, which was the usual plan in ancient times, but also by regular drives put in at various depths and communicating together, and the ore taken out be tween by stoping. The drives were also well aired and well drained. Near one of the mines on this island was found an immense mass of copper ore with several stone mauls lying near. The mauls weighed from 10 to 30 pounds.

Out next inquiry is what prpof have we, in addition to the numerous mounds, that they existed in large numbers. In proof of this we have very extensive fortifications. In Ohio 306 miles have been traced, and in the same State there is an embankment of felled trees and earth 17 miles long.

It is thought that these temple mounds and enclosures and the evident ceremonies employed at burial show that a powerful priesthood existed, and one is inclined to coincide with this opinion when we learn that the Spaniards found established amongst the Aztecs one of the most tyrannous priesthoods that batten on ignorance and superstition. The conclusion thence is that the moundbuilder lived in strongly built houses, and the towns were well fortified with earth and trees. He cultivated maize very extensively. That bread was his staple food is evident, not only from the absence of bones of animals such as tell the story of the moa hunters in New Zealand, but also from the fact that large communities such as they were coutd in no other way be supported. The early voyagers to Florida speak of extensive fields of maize, strongly fortified towns, and substantially built wooden houses. We have the most abundant specimens of his pottery, which appears to have been made with a variety of designs. Large pans are sometimes found in the mounds. There was one taken out large enough to hold one gallon three pints, with the bones of a turtle adhering, to the sides. In addition to pots and jars, specimens of statuary have also been found. At-^ma, Illinois, a porphyry stone figure weighing about 401bs was found at the bottom of a mound. A tablet also, with an inscription was also found which was at first said to be the tea commandments in Hebrew, which however did not prove to be the case. We may conclude then, that when the Saxons were invading Britain, or perhaps long before that time America was inhabited by people in three distinct'stages of civilisation. ■

The Mexicans by the use of adobe brick and domestic animals bad. reached the middle status of barbarism.

The mound "builders^ by their eultiva* tion of maize and manufacture of pottery, may be classed in the lower status, and thirdly the Red Indian, who was in a state of savagery.