Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-22
THE LOST AMERICAN RACE.

DR.. De Haas, of Virginia, whose discovery
of an inscription in one of the ancient mounds
of the West, excited considerable attention in
the archaeological world a year or two ago,
gave, on Saturday evening, in the rooms of the
Historical Society, the first of a series of lee
lures on the antiquities of America, as throw
ing light on the ancient inhabitants of this con-
tinent. He estimates that there are at least
100000 tumuli within the United States.
Their shape is very varied, and they are small
er and more numerous in the North than in
the South. Their situation indicates that they
were built by an agricultural people; indeed,
they are generally most numerous i'll those
portions of the Mississippi Valley which are
now most numerously settled. In the lake re-
gion of Wisconsin, there are some which are
in the form of animals. Most of these mounds
are places Of sepulture, and with the skeletons
are sometimes found brass implements, and
even pieces of cloth. Some mounds in the
South and West have been and are being built
by the Indians, but they are different from the
ancient mounds in every respect The ancient
tumuli are never found on the first terrace of
the rivers, which DR.. De Haas supposed to
prove that they were built before the rivers
had cut their present channels. He divides
them into mounds of sculpture, of sacrifice, of
worship, of observation, and of defence, besides
miscellaneous. The mounds of sepulture rare
ly contain more than two skeletons, and are
square or eipsoid. The mound at Grave
Creek, Marshall County, Va, is unique. 1t is
20 feet high by 800 in circumference, and COW
cred with forest trees. 1t was opened in 1888,
and in the center were found male and
female skeleton, in small chamber construct
ed of wood and stone, with passage out tow
ards the north east. On one of the skeletons
were four copper bracelets and small stone
pebble, containing the inscription which had
excited so much attention, was lying near by.
He drew comparison between the tumuli
raised by all the ancient inhabitants of the
Eastern Continent and those of this, and he
finds nearly every variety upon this continent
which we know were built upon the other
The mounds of sacrifice are raised platforms
Dr. De Haas exhibited a large number of ar
ticles which he had found in altar mounds. In
some CT these charred skeletons are found,
which suggest human burnt offerings; one
such skeleton had its skull fractured so much
as to produce death. The guard mounds rare
ly contain any remains their position indicates
their character. Mounds of observation COM
mand most of the Valley of the Mississippi,
and probably served for a fire telegraph. The
temple mounds stand within Enclosures and
contain no remains. Mounds have been
thrown up by the Indians for defence, and for
refuge in inundatiou. So, also, the Indians
pile up heaps of stones over their dead. Oc-
casionally circles of stone are found about the
back of the mounds, reminding us of the
Druidical circles They are most frequent in
Yucatan. There appear to have been four
methods of interment by this ancient race
First, in chamber in the centre of a mound,
stretched from East to West, with copper orna-
ments accompanying the body; second, by
folding the body in small stone coffin, third,
by incremation, the ashes being placed in
earthenware urns, and fourth, by general Sc
pulture, which was probably done only after
the general slaughter of battle.-Nen York
Tribune, 18th