The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1858-04-29
ANCIENT INSCRIPTIONS OF THE WEST
GRAVE CREEK MOUND.

he withou: interest to glance. at the antiuni-
lies OF that people who long preceded the
whites
The valley Of the Ohio is remarkable for
the vast number Of its antiquities. In every
form OF fortltication, monument, altar, tomb,
the Ohio valley is strcwcd with the memo
r'a's Of an ancient people. The Miami and
Sc'oto valleys arc peculiarly ricl, in them.
Cincinnati itself was the site of ancient for
t;tlcatloh's. and Fort Ancient, as it now stands
on the Miami, is II gigantic work. The
surface of section through the parapct,
where the road passes out, is nearly four
hundred square feet! When such para
pet is continued for miles, the reader NAV
Imagine with what labor that work was
made. CircicviIlc, Chillicothe and Mari
eta, all stood on the sites of ancient towns,
defended by great fortifcalons.
! At Grave Creek, below Wheeling, is one
OF the most interesting locrlitics for these
antiquities. Tumuli and parape,s mark the
site of some important place; but among
them the Great Mound rises as the special
monument of the place. 1t is 60 feet in
perpendicular height, $50 feet in circumfer-
enrc ut the base, and % feet in diameter ut
the top. It's solid contents are calculated
at l75,OO0 cubic feet The interior of this
mound conlancl II finished chamber, and a
stone with an unknown inscription. This
inscription has recently become the suIec,
of most elaborate discussion before the
American chronological Society n, New
York, III consequence Of IL denial by Mr..
+. G. SGnier Of tho authenticity, or rather
existence, Of that Inscription.
Before we notice the proceedings Of the
chronological Society," we should here state
that the whole question was settled at Gin.
c'nnat' twenty years ago. In 1888, Mr.
Ioml'"son, then proprietor of the Grave
Creek Mound, employed Iaborcrs to open
the mound and give it a thorough investi-
CATION. 1t was always supposed that the
mound contained the grave or monument
OF some great person. In the interior was
found chamber which hal originally been
lined or ccled with wood. Some remains
of the same general character with those
in other mounds were found. A stone was
also discovered, on which was an :nscrip-
ton.
The discussion before the Pathological
Society was full of interest. 1t resulted in
an acknowledgment by Mr.. Squier that he
was mistaken. The conclusion is thus
given:
DR.. DeIIass discussed with great force
and clearness every point at issue. lie
touched the subject in all its bearings,
clearly showing that he had investigated it
in every particular. lie supported his po
silion by letters from many of the most
distinguished citizens of north western Vir,
gina. His mass of material, under the
head of evidence. is perfectly overwhelming
on all points affecting the creGibility Of the
inscription. Much Of this he could not reae
for want of time. His own paper occupied
about two hours in delivery.
Having concluded, Mr.. squler roso and
addressed the meeting. lie stated, in a
few words, that he had relied upon Dr.,
Morton as careful and distinguished in
vestisator Of American archaeology. He
d'sclaimed any personal feeling upon the
subject. He wished tie facts in the case,
aud now that DR.. DeIIass had, with great
care and industry, collected these facts, lie
was happy to receive them, and willing TO
say that the point was clearly established by
DIR. DcIIass that DR.. Clemens did commu-
nicate to DIR. Morton an account of the in
scriptinn stone found at Grave Creek. lie
would like some additional facts about the
Identical discovery, and closed by moving
a vote Of thanks to Dr.. DeIfass for his d.
per just read,
DR.. peIIass regretted to detain the so-
ciety, hut he was in possession of full facts
about the discovery, which he had not been
able to read for want of. time. lie world
simply read an extract from the affidavit of
Mr.. a. B. Tominson, who found the tab
let. Having read this portion of Mr.. Tom.
linson's affidavit, with the simple remark
that lie had abundant additional evidence
on that head, he submitted the question to
the Society. The response was general that
the whole question had been fully and
satisfactory settled. The vote of thanks
was then put and unanimously carried.
The. inscription on the Grave Creek stone.
and others like it, will, we fear, never be
interpreted. The unknown race who settled
this continent from Asia, who (whether the
same race found here BY Europeans or noD
must have brought with tn m some remains
Of Civilizations who here built cities and
fortresses; who Tough. great battles; whose
bones the plough turns. up amidst the green
fields; who, after-a mighty struggle, have
perished from their ancient places-this
raca wa faar will Eyo onlv - b;...