The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-10-15
Misttllan w..
MOUND BUILDING,

TIE MOUND BUILDERS IN THE ROCKY
MOUNTAINS.
An account was recently given of the
opening of an ancient mound in Southern
Utah, similar to those of the Mississippi
Valley, in which were found relics of the
unknown builders indicating much artis-
tic skill. 1t was stated that this was the
first evidence found of the existence of the
Mound Builders west of the Rocky Noun
tains. We are now able to announce, for
the first time as we suppose, the discovery
OF similar mounds, evidently built by the
same race, high up On the Rocky Mountains.
The discovery was made by Mr.. G. A.
Deane, of Denver, while at work on a
Government survey, in the mountains,
few weeks since. He found upon the ex-
IRENE summit of the snowy range structures
of stone evidently of ancient origin, and
hitherto unknown or unnoticed. Opposite
to and also north of the head of South
Boulder Creek, and on the summit of the
range, Mr.. Dean and his party observed
large numbers OF the granite rocks, MANY
OF them as large as two men could lift, in
a position that could not have been the re-
suit of chance. They had evidently been
placed upright in a line, conforming to the
general contour of the dividing ridge, and
frequently extending IN an unbroken line
for one or two hundred yards. Many of
the stones have fallen over or are leaning,
while others retain their upright position.
In two places connected with this line are
mounds OF stone, loosely laid up, about
two feet in height, and embracing a
circular area Of about ten feet in diane
ter. The stones were evidently collected
on the spot, as the surface is cleared for a
space OF several yards around the struc-
lures, These lines and mounds of stone
bear every mark of extreme antiquity, as
the dlsintegrated granite has accumulated
to considerable depth at their base, and
the rocks in the mounds are moss-grown
The feature more particularly identifying
these structures with those of the Mound
Builders elsewhere, is that they present at
intervals projections pointing to the west
ward. We are thus particular in the de-
scription OF these Rocky Mountain mounds,
which are extraordinary in position if not
in character, in the hope that antiquarians
visiting our Territory may DO induced to
examine them. 1t would not involve
much labor to open them, and possibly
they cover relics that may add something
to our small stock of knowledge of the
ancient race who constructed these and
similar works all over the continent.
These walls and mounds are situated 5000
feet above the timber line. 1t is, therefore,
hardly supposable that they were built for
affairs of sacrifice. They were not large
enough for shelter or defence. The more
probable supposition is that, like the large
mounds elsewhere, they were places of sep
ulture, and perhaps, also, at the same time
historical memorials, pointing with their
stone fingers in the direction ofthe country
from which the ancestors of their builders
migrated. The three mounds may mark
the resting places of those who, for some
distinction, were buried as near to heaven
as possible. Rocky Mountain Neus.
THE MOUND BUILDERS IN INDIANA.
G. F. Adye writes from Newtonville,
Spencer county, Indiana, to the Cincinnati
Gazette as follows This country is rich
in such American antiquities. Indian ar
rows, wedges, stone hatchets, pestels, and
mounds are plenty. One ofthe most prom
inent mounds can be seen ON Corn Island,
near Troy, by the travelling public. 1t is
hall mile above the coal landing; has a
large two-story frame house on it. A cellar
and cistern have been dug in it, the
mound covers three acres, and is about
twenty feet above the general level. About
twelve inches below the surface is q layer
of flat stone, under which human bones of
large size are found IN abundance. Skulls
larger than the whole head of man are
found. The lower jaw bone can be
placed over the jaw and flesh of large
mans face. The whole skeleton is very
large, An excavation near by shows where
the dirt was obtained. Enclosed l send
you two teeth, taken from the upper and low
Ell jaw of human head, which was obtained
twcnty-one feet below the surface. They
are large and sharp, and show the carniv-
oFous habits Of q.larger race of men than
the present. Half mile from the mound
is another of less proportions, but every