The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-03-30
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1870 6,SuSiii 1aaa6i ssi lii,.udaulll
IsTiTaor SEvF III .VT1fIs JfII Ia 7EsTTFes rs
RELICS OF ANANCxENT CITY IN MIS- MS
.finafIf aFl 5oa sou SOURI,. Rt4t.o.siia no8aaai
Ial Capt. Whitley has just returned
from New Madrid county with over
100 more specimens Of pottery and
relics of the prehistoric residents of
Missouri, which will be added to the
Centenniai collection. Capt. Whitley
and the party who accompanied him
have traced the remains of q former
extensive city, which show the evil
dence of having been densely popu-
lated. The city was surrounded by
fortifications,-the embapkments with
covered ways connecting the outworks
of which have been traced for several
miles. The remains of mounds, serv-
ing either to watch an enemy or as
cemeteries for the burial of the dead,
in which are found skeletons, associ-
ated with drinking vessels, are also
found distributed about the area of
this ancient encampment. The indu-
bitable traces Of the dwellings,, streets
and avenues, were also traced over
large portions Of the grounds, the
proper surveys OF which would doubt
less tend to throw new light on the
origin of these people. The houses
are qaite email, from s to II feet in
diameter, and located about 10 feet
apart. They existed in regular rows
with streets and avenues running
through the city at right angles and at
proper distances apart. The founda-
tions of the dwellings, if not the en-
tire structure, were made Of kind of
adobe brick, of a red color like mod
ern brick, but of coarser material.
The brick, specimens Of which were
brought up by Capt Whitley, have
transverse holes passing through, sup
posed by some to act as ventilators to
the dwellings, as, the bricks being
laid fatwise in tho wall, the sides of
the house would be thereby pierced
with amultitude of holes for the ad-
mission of the outside air.
e Another and more probable theory
is, that the bricks In maileable state,
were pierced with round sticks for the
more readily handling and burning,
and the sticks having burned ont leave
the impression Of their form in the
shape of hole. The sites of these
ancient habitations are plainly observ-
ed by sunken depression of several
feet in the ground, leaving evidence
like that seen in the sites frequently
met with in the country of modern
times. AT the first sight of these hab-
itations the observer might be led to
believe that these ancient people lived
in cellars and built their houses 'un-
der ground but this impression will
vanish on rejecting that the accnmu.
ted debris of ages has entombed these
dwellings beneath the surface. Be-
sides, on one side of the ancient city,
there IL stiilsa lake or marsh, which at
some remote period may have over
flowed its banks, submerging portions
of the site Of the ancient city long after
it's extinction, and added its deposits
to the accumulating debris. The site
of the city is now covered with trees,
mostly oak, of an ancient growth,
showing that thousands of years have
rolled round before the handiwork of
these ancient Missourians was exhurn-
ed for the exhibition at the Centennial.
The pottery brought up here this time
by the eindefatigable antiquarian, some
of which was taken out on Saturday
last, consists largely of drinking cups,
culinary utensils, and bottles of gourd
shape. There are also rude trowels
and tools used for fashioning and or
namenting the pottery, and whetstones
for sharpening the stone axes and
other instruments in use. But the fan
tastic character of the ornamentation
of the vessels is what strikes every
one with surprise. There are very
accurate figures OF fish, frogs, hedge
hogs, and such animals that existed at
that time /; besides, among the feather
ed tribes are the goose, duck, owl,
hawk, and probably the rooster from
his comb. gstis -it nt.iaan
There are miniature busts of male
heads carved out of clay, representing
q type of face more resembling the
ancient Astic race than the modern
American Indian; but further and
more careful inquiry.is necessary be-
fore coming to any conclusion on this
point which would tend to settle the
origin of these early builders and tax
payers of the State.- st. Louis Re-
publican, Feb. 16. e fssi7f
NIP SKVnMnRE,S I.uICrE