North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1869-05-26
From the Knoxvile (Tenn.) Press and Herald.
Wonderful Discovery-A Relic OF iha
Mound Builders In Kentucky.

From the Knoxville (Tenn.) Press and Hern,s.
Mound Builders In Kentucky.
We learn that very singular relic oe
that mysterious people who inhabited this
continent long before the days of the
American Indians, the marks Of whose
civilization are almost everywhere found,
and who, for the want of better name,
are known to us as the Mourd Builders,
has recently been discovered near Cum.
berland ford, in Ecll county, Ky.
The Hon. Jas. b. Palmer Of that
county, and for some so years county
surveyor of Harlan county, out Of pars
of which Bell county was created, SONS
two or three weeks ago found, upon Il
peak Of the Log mountain (which extends
between Cumberland gap and Barbours-
ville), Il large natural grotto, formed of an
everhanging rock, perfectly protected
from the weather The peak is upon the
south side Of the Cumberland river, and
is as high as the mountains at Cumber.
land gap. Although families have lived
within less than mile of this peak. no
one seems ever to have assembled the rea!.
or explored the grotto. until the visit cl
Mr.. Palmer, who found within the grotto,
and facing toward the st, an admirably
carved statue, or rather torso. Of a full
sized man in sitting posture, with hands
by his side. The image was carved from
the heart Of a yellow pine, and was evi.
IDENTIFY the work of no mean sculptor.
According to our informant, who saw it
at Mr.. Palmer's house some ten days ago,
the contour of the ribs, and every muscle
Of the body, was perfectly displayed. The
face Of the image is beautifully wrought,
and every feature perfectly delineated. In
the ears were holes for tt: insertion Of
ornaments.
How many unnumbered years that
strange statue, wrought by unknown
hands, had calmly sat, Areeting the rising
sun each morning, needless of the ami
hilation Of those who once ascenied the
then holy mountain and prostrated them,
selves before it in alteration careless &c
the strangers who roamcd the lands where
its servants once ruled, our ina gination is
powerless to tell. Only the wind tina;
whistled through the grotto wherein il
stood 1.-THE rain could not reach it, had
worn away the outer side for an inch or
more, and from thus some idea may lc
gained of the duration of its weary vigil
| there on the mountain alone.
The wood from which it was hewn,
from the quantity of pitch it contains.
when protected from the weather rs it
was here, is as indestructibie rs stone,
ard this same image may have been. and
probably was. carved and set up az an
object Of worship, long before the Indians
roved the woods, and even anterior to the
! Christian era.
1t is probable that this discovery may,
! in the hands of expert arctSolo@ists,
throw more light upon the mysterious
history Of the Mound Builders. The
description Cf the attitude Of the image
reminded US of that of some Of the llina0o
deities.
Our informant stated that Mr.. Palmer
had removed thG statue TO his house. lat
he said that it was his own intention tn
have him replace it for the purpose Of
photographng it in it's original position,
sonian institute at Washington, with "a
copy Of the photograph.