National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-10-12
OUR PRIMITIVE PEOPLE.
An Old Wall of the Mound Builders.

Professor James r. Gage, one Of the awarding
committee in the geological and mineral depart
ment Of the exhibition at this city, arrived this
morning from the State of Mississippi in time to
attend to his duties on the committee. Professor
Gage, as is generally known to antiquarians, is
engaged in making explorations regarding the
works extant of the ancient mound builders, and
he reports the discovery Of q very remarkable
wall in the region just visited by him, and of
which discovery mention is now FIRST made. Pro-
lessor Gage says he discovered the stone wall
under consideration cropping out at different
points in Claiborne county, eighteen miles east
of Port Gibson, in the State Of Mississippi.
Blocks of the stone have been takenby the farm
ers for building purposes for many years, and 1t
has formed a general quarry Tor furnishing large
blocks of stone, the same as the coliseum at
Rome has to the more modern vandals for build
ing purposes. But the farmers have never, 1t
seems been aware of the antiquarian import
ance OF this WALL which is doubtless coeyal or an
terror TO that Of Hadrians famous wall in Eng
land. Professor Gage employed laoorers and
width and one hundred and seyenty-hVe feet In
length; but on removing the soil here and there
he traced 1t elk hundred feet. The workmen
uncovered the wall to q depth Of six feet, but
lower than this the excavations were not con-
tinued.
Large forest trees Of pine and oak, several hun
dred years old, are growing on top Of the wall.
The blocks are limestone and belong to the terti-
airy formation. They were hewn out Of this form
alton and are three feet In length, twenty inches
in width and twenty-five inches in thickness.
One of these blocks has been shipped for St
Louis, and is expected to be on exhibition In the
geological department before the close OF the fair
and then 1t will be sent to Philadelphia for the
Centennial. The wall from which the block was
taken forms two sides Of a rectangle, one part
running east and west and the other north and
south. The excavations were made near the
angle. Three miles due south from this point
another portion of the wall reappears on the
banks of Bayou Pierce, owing to the washing out
Of the creek, making 1t q large exposure and It
is therefore judged that this is q continuation OF
the ancient wall. The wall was built on the side
Of ridge overlooking o swamp which, in ancient
times, was evidently the bed OF lake. and the in
ference is that the wall erected by the ancient
occupants as . barrier against an enemy. Or
was It an ancient levee or dyke erected for the
protection of the Inhabitants against the en-
croachments Of the lake or the waters Of the Mis-
sissippif From other evidences Of the wide ex-
tent OF this WALL as described by the people In
other sections, 1t is evident that It included o
large area ofland, covering probably four hun
dred Equars miles and extending to the Missis-
sippi river.
Professor Gage will go back to pursue the In
vestigaton. He says that within few miles
there are ancient mounds scattered all over the
valley. Specimens Of pottery, vases, stone axes,
arrow heads, skulls, bones, psrched corn and sea
shells have been found In any quantity. The
locality where this remarkable wall exists is in the
neighborhood oil the NstcheZ Indians, who were
found in q state Of considerable civilization when
first visited by the French, and these remains, IL
is coDjectured, may have some connection with
the occupation by the wsrlike ancestors of this
interesting and famous tribe,