The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-03-15
pnr-rrsrorrc AMERICA.



an old mound near the city of Dayen-
port, in Iowa, have attracted the at-
tention of archeologists, and will take
rank among the most important arch
eologlcal discoveries thus far made in
America. Photographic plates have
been taken of the tablets. These tab
I6ls are described as being engraved
vei y rudely on dark colored slate'
aud were exhumed by Rev. J. Gasr, .
member ofrthe Davenport Academy
ef Sciences, aud by him turned over
20 the Academy. st ss
Plate 1 represents either a human
sacrifice or the cremation of the dead,
q matter that is left in some uncer-
tainty. Two dead bodies are exhibit
ed on one side of furnace and one on
the other, which wonld seem to be-
sneak cremation of the dead, but an
immence circle of figures dancing
around the furnace and the bodies
gives the impression of human sac
rifice. This tablet is about 10 by II
inches, and l and 55s inches thick, With
the lower corners broken Oft in exca-
waiting. Wreathes of smoke are repre-
sented -as rising from the furnace, and
twenty-five stars and the sun and
moon are represented. About these
are two lines and miscellaneous col
lection Of Whist is evidently.a written
language in characters that resemble
in many particulars photographic
signs and Arabic characters. OF
course, none of the savans have at
tempted 10 translate these mysterious
cl aracters. Amy cne accomplishing
this would produce the key to the un-
written history of the continent, and
be able TO tell us something about the
mysterious mound builders.
Plate III is the reverse side of Plate
1 and represents q great number and
variety OF human beings, birds, ami
male and trees. From the rude draw
ings ON fl,is side of the tablet, It is
cl sar that the mastodon inhabited the
country coeval with the mound build
ers, as two immense animals were rep
Resented, one OF them being placed in
comparison with a gigantic tree, for
the evident purpose OF conveying An
idea OF its size. AnOther,snd diner-
ent looking animal with immense ears
ike an elephants, aud with mouth
and nose somewhat rs sembling hip
popOtamus, is also represented.
Scenes of the chase. dead or capture d
animals, including buffaloes, deer, wild
hogs, rabbits, &c, aud one figure that
will pass pretty we'll for COW, are al
so represented along with forest tree
and open country
Plate Ill represents dial engraved
on a piece of slate SIX inches square e
and IL composed of four circles drawn
ar )und each other at regular intervals.
Bstweem the two inner circles are
marked the cardinal points, and be-
tween. the two other circles are twelve
iaracters corresponding in number
and position with the twelve sigma OF
the Zodiac, but made up of different
characters than those used by astron-
omers.
The Rev. Mr.. Gass, in his account OF
the discovery of these interesting rel
les, after giving general review oI
the locality where they were found
says: q kfE
east slope of the mound about ten I
twelve feet from the opening on IL.
vest side made in 1874. The earth
frozen to depth Of about three and a
half feet. Five or six inches below
the purface we came upon a layer Oi
shells one or two inches i'm thickness
which slcped downward toward the
southeast, reaching depth OF two
feet or more below the surface, and
extending for distance of 10 or l:
feet. Between the surface and thi,
first layer of shells number of small
fragments of human bones were scat
tered throughout the soil. Under this
she'll layer was stratum of earth IL te
l5 inches in thickness, resting on 8
second layer of shells, from to inch
es in thickness. Both shell layers
sloped downward parallel with each
other. Below the second shell layer
the earth was of the nature Of q ligbt
mold, darker In color than the cart b
above aud thickly interspersed with
fragments of human bones. The. Z
circumstances arrested my attentit Il
and caused me 10 proceed from this
time on with the greatest caution. Al
depth OF about Is inches under the
10 west part of the shell layer exposed
in this excaya,Ion-the shell stratum
At this point being ) or 6 inches ,hick-
the inscribed plates were found. The
slate Is the same as that usually found
OverIaying coal beds ia this vicinity
and is such As is frequently seen -crcp
ping ont from The hiIlsides or in 10.
lated slabs in the beds Of streams
ifO th plates lay, together on tht
hard undisturbed clay boitam OF the
mo0nd. In the immediate viciniiy y
were found n number OF fragment oi
human bones one being portion ol
q skull saturated with carbonate Oi
copper. A small piece of copper wa,
found also many fragments Of SLATE
and piece Of fbOne eartificialiy wrought.
LithOgraphie views OF these tablets
have been sent TO eminent aniiq,iari.
ans aud archeolOgists. and have called
forth a variety OF opinions as to their
genniueness. Prof. Baird and DIR.
Rowe, ol the Smithsonian Institute,
have dOnbts bat desire that The tablets