Middletown transcript., 1869-10-16
MOUNDS AND THEIR BUILDERS.

10 the American Antiquarian there is
scarcely any department of his study so in-
teresting, and yet supplied with so indef-
mite data, as the Ancient Mound Bull
ders and their curious remains. The fol-
lowing interesting account of their location
and character, by l.. s. Metcalf, we give
as presenting the main features ofthe won
derful creation of all extinct race, in well
condensed form.
"There once lived over nearly the whole
of this country, race of people of whom
we have not the slightest trace in history;
that they were numerous and ingenious is
about all that is certainly known of them.
Where they came from. how long they
existed, what were their principles of gov
ernment, what became of them, and a
thousand other queries that arise, can on
ly be answered by conjecture. Considera-
BILE similarity is found between their relics
and more modern works in Central Amer
lea, from which it is inferred that they disap-
peared in that direction, or else that the
last remaining portion became the origin of
the present race of Central America and
Mexican Indians.
No remains of them are found in the
New England States, but all over the prai-
rie lands of the West, and down the Mis-
sissippi valley, from Pennsylvania to the
Rocky Mountains, and from the Great
Lakes to the Gulf, their monuments are
scattered.
1t was early noticed. by European set
tiers that certain large mounds or hills in
the district mentioned were too symmetri-
cal in form to have been of natural origin.
The character and habits of the Indians
not then being we'll understood, the work
was at first attributed to them, and the
idea was strengthened by the finding of
Indian graves in the mounds, but near
their surface. Investigation has shoWn
conclusively that their builders were an
other entirely distinct people. The hills
are perfectly conical in shape, and are
composed of alternate layers Of loan and
gravel. Trees many hundred years old
grow upon them, proving their extreme
age. By digging in a directly perpendic-
ular line from the apex to the base, a
large structure of stone resembling an al
ter, and few tools, are always found, us
ually also some small articles of strange
shape and unknown to use, and in some
instances human remains are discovered.
The tools are of copper, and possess hard
ness and temper much like that of steel,
the art of producing which in soft metals
is not known at the present day The hu-
man remains indicate that the men were
of large size, with well developed heads,
entirely different in shape from those Of the
North American Indians.
The town of Circlevillo, Ohio, takes its
name from an extensive system of ancient
earthworks upon which its stands. These
works comprise large ridges running at
right angles and forming great squares in
regular rows, as though intended for the
foundations for buildings. A very higl
and wide ride surrounds the whole, ant
from this wall to the Ohio River near by
extends, roadway or inclined plane.
At the SUBMITS of several mountains
high above surrounding peaks, and in pla
ces very difficult of approach, are square
chambers, cut down into the solid rock
and evidently intended for defense.
In the vicinity of Lake Superior, traces
of the Mound Builders are quite abundant
There they obtained the copper for thei
tools. Their manner of operating was tt
break out the ore in masses. The effect
of the long action of time upon the re
mains are very marked, and die same kinc
of implements are found here which ar
discovered in the mound.
A systematic and thorough examination
of all the relics, it is understood, is nov
being made, and it is to be hoped tha
more light may be obtained upon sub
ject so interesting.