Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-01-14
CITES OF A wonLD GONE BYE.

We have Teau, ~ cSCIy OloASA ~
literature, something concerning
sbe ancient buildings which have
oaorn ed the several countries of the
od world; but scarcely a word is
neuned or uttered concerning the
strangely wrought monuments which
crown the hilltops, and line the val-
levs of every state in our own coun-
trv. These will not bear compare
son in beauty with the antiquities OF
Greece, nor in grandeur with those
of Egypt, but since they are SO
common, they should be Of more in
terest tc Us; and being the works
of arace, long since persisted forever,
they are wrapped in the shadows OF
q deeper romance.
A large part of what are called
the antiquities of America, consist
only of the architecture and other
remains of the aboriginal tribes and
nations, who have been displaced by
European conquest and settlement.
Such are the ruined temples and
other edifces of Peru, OF Central
America, aAd of Mexico, as well as
the rude monuments of New Mexico,
and the still ruder earth works, and
rock sculpture. east of the Allegha-
,lies. The early settlers OF New
England, as well as the invaders OF
Mexico, Central America and Peru,
found the Indians erecting defenses
consisting OF embellishments and
bitches, the remains OF which are
almost universally confused With
those of more ancient inhabitants,
of unknown and extinct tribes
But these remains, however inter
csting, raa4 HARDLY be considered as
falling within the Denomination OF
American antiquities.
We shall include emily such monu-
ments as were regarded as antlqul-
ties 10y the aborigines themselves,
concerning whose origin they were
wholly ignorant or possessed only
traditional knowledge. Of this
~haracterare most of the carthworks
and mounds, traced in gigantic out
line and with geometrical precision
on the broad terraces of the Missis-
sippi valley, and which rise ia grand
proportion in the silent forests hor-
dering on the Mexican gulf
In addition to these, that portion
of the U. S. lying between the Allie
ghany and the Rocky Mountains,
presents in three groups at once the
oldest and the rudest works of by
gone times The several groups
consist of monuments aud circum-
valuations of earth and stone, vary
ing from five to thirty feet in
height usually of some symmetrical
figure, covering an area Of from
twenty acres to one square mile.
The first group is of defensive
character, consisting of an embank-
nent surrounded by ditch and
palisades and usually covers the
sumit of the steepest hills. When
not erected in close proximity to a
stream, or when spring is not in
Guided within their boundary, they
always contain reservoirs for hold
ing water, and other provisions for
seige, as well as sudden attack.
Associated with these defensive
structures is another and still more
interesting class of remains, consist
ing of vast structure evidently of
sacred origin, and in some way con-
nected with the religious ideas and
ceremony of their builders.
They consist of earth-work of
regular outline as squares, circles,
and other geometrical figures often
combined; are usually of great ex-
tent comprising sometimes upwards
OF twelve miles Of embankment, from