Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-11-01
Irhlladelnhin -.

institutes collection in the Govern.
ment building continues on into the
age of copper, many rare and valua.
bic specimens of this class of prod.
ucts of aboriginal skill being shown
The implements include celts o,
chisels, axes, hatchets, and other cut
ting tools, all hammered out of cold
metal instead of being cast. The
Indians never shaped copper by any
other process than the tedious one oil
slowly hammering it into the form
required, and yet it is strange that,
although in placing it upon their
funeral piles they must have seen
the copper melt and assume the
shape Of surrounding obstacles, the
idea of casting it never occurred to
them. There are also displayed a
large quantity of large beads, brace
lets, tubes probably used for pipe
stems, and other articles of utility
and ornament, all roughly shaped,
but some of them finely polished.
Passing on, the visitor finds a large
number OF implements and orna-
ments made Of bone and shells. In
this collection are included smooth
ing tools, wedges, flnely-polished
perforaters, harpoon-heads, fish
hooks, knives-or rather, instru-
ments sharpened like knives, but
without an edge-and a great varie-
ty of whistles. The whistles are
made in all sorts of forms, from many
kinds of shells and several parts OF
the skeletons of animals. What
their use was can only be conjcc.
tured, as some of them give forth q
mere squeak, while others sound
loud and shrill. Several are made
of birds bills. Near this collection
is a number of shells used rs cups
for holding asphaltum, substance
largely employed by the Indians as
kind Of glue, and some of tho cups
still have asphaltum in them. The
beads are globular only in exception
al cases, generally they are large,
flat discs, coarsely made, and as in
artistic as they must have been use
less. The next row of cases contain
many valuable relics left by the
mysterious mound-builders Of centu-
ries or ages ago. These mounds
have been found in many different
portions Of the country, but all are
made on the same general principle,
and all contain remains of the dead 4,
curious old pottery, strange weapons,
etc. The mound builders were evil
IDENTIFY totally different people
from the Indians of the North and
West, and some enthusiasts have en-
deavored to identify them with the
Toltecs, who were afterward con-
quered by the Aztecs, tho theory be-
ing that as they Journeyed South
they erected these mounds on the
way. But one of tho first lessons
deducible from history teaches that
mental advancement or culture al
ways begins in warm countries,
where food and clothing may be OBJ
tanned without labor, and the mind
is therefore left free for reflection.
Then as tho seeds Of advancement
are carried north they arc more de-
veloped by people who seize upon
every improvement which can min
lister to their necessities. Again,
Indians and the mound-builder or
namented their pottery with figures
impressed with basket-WOFk or cut
with a curiously-carved stone called
tho "sartaush," q stamp which being
cylindrical In shape, was rolled
around the vase so that tho raised
surfaces could follow in any direction
In regular lines. One remarkable
specimen Of a funeral urn exhibited
was found inGeorgia in allow mound
always 80 far AZ the record extcnds)
covered with impenetrablo cane
brake lying beneath vast swamp
forest, which Is subject to the yearly
overflow of the Oconee river. The
urn il only two feet in height by a
foot in diameter, and il ornamcntcd
with basket-work figures. When
found il had an arcled lii and was
Theoretically sealed; on opening the
strange relic, remains Of teeth fin
gers, toes, etc, were found, but they
soon crumbled to dust when exposed
to the mir. There is no way 10 csti-
mate with any degree Of certainty
the age OF this fUneral urn, but very
fortunately discovery has been
made which shows conclusively that
all the mound-builders did not die
go many ages ago as some theorists
would have us believe. Dr. Swift
found in mounds In both Maryland
and Louisiana the same typical yes
sells, and with them the remains Of
the sus ser0ttts or common hog. As
the hog was not known in this couu.
try until introduced by the Span.
iards i'm the middle of the seven.
teenth century, it - very evident
that the mounds in question must
have been of still moro recent date
In exploring another mound DR.
Swift came upon the remains Of q
horse connected with several vases
and two Clipped and polished jasper
celts. AS tho horse was introduced
by the Spaniards at about the same
time, and as the relics found in il