Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-05-30
INDIAN RELICS.
Human Remains. Ancient Pottery,
and Implements of War Found in
an Indian Mound.

From the Davenport Gazette.
In removing an old Indian ground
on Colonel Aliens farm in Rocking
ham township, a few days ago, the
workmcn came across some inter-
esting relics of the long-gone race
Of Indians known generally as the
"Mound Builders"
Colonel Aliens house is situated
on a spur OF the bluff about five
miles below the city, and at a point
from which the view is unrestricted
for several miles up and down the
river-certainly fine location for
an Indian lookout.
The mound was about thirty feet
in diameter at it's base, six feet in
height, in shape even and symmetri-
cal, and formed of a light soil, which
underneath the sod, was perfectly
dry. The bones Of two bodies were
found, one on each side of the cen
ter, east and west; but time has
played sad havoc with them, and
little remains that would be Of ma
terial aid to the antiquary. The
lower jaw-bone of one, still holds
together, the teeth sound but con-
siderably worn down into the crown.
BY the side of each body was found
an earthenware vassel-specimens
Of antique pottery Of no mean shape
and design tor the rude age in which
they were manufactured.
The vessels or vases are pine
apple shaped, four inches in dame
ter at the rim, which is little more
than an inch wide swelling out to
six inches in diameter, and taper
ing slightly rounded at the bottom,
and about five inches deep. There
is a slight attempt at ornamentation
on the rim, lines running up and
down diagonally, with short parallel
lines filling the spaces; and four
knobs at equal distance around,
two of them with an opening adapt
ed to a thong or string for carrying;
the bowl is marked or rather
scratched over with finer lines.
They arc made of clay mixed with
sand, evidently kiln baked, perfectly
smooth inside, and are of the uni.
form thickness of inch. In one of
them was found 4 shell, or rather
what was once shell, for it went
into dust at the touch.
The implements of war which
were got out whole were stone
tomahawk, an arrow head and
large boulder with groove round
the center, possibly a battle ak;
other pieces were found, with some
fragments of pottery, but all too
much broken to put together. These
relics are much the same in general
shape and design as have been
found in South America; in the
Southern States ofour own country
and throughout the Mississippi
Valley records of race long
extinct, a people without name, who
left no history, nor even tradition,
to guide the antiquary in his search.
When Colonel Allen built here,
several years ago, there were six of
these mounds-two were cut down
and wheeled off by the laborers, and
whatever was unearthed was carried
off or broken; the present one makes
the third-with the above result
the others will probably remain IN
statm quo, as monuments of the by
gone race, unless the Historical
Society make an attack in force.
IT is rather strange, but neverthe.
less true, that a murder occurred in
Brooklyn the day Foster was hung,
another the day Walsh was hung at
Alexandria, Va, and another in
New York the night after Nixon
was LUNCHES.