The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-10-13
1RCIIAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES ABOUT
ROCKFORD.
Curious Tablet Recently Unearthed and what
II Says

We find in a letter from Rockford to the
Chicago Times the following account ofreccnt
interesting archaeological discoveries in that
vicinity, rs well rs the frs; ineligible dc,crip-
ton Of the Rockford Tablet, of which con
siderable was said in the papers two or three
years ago. The Phalic Interpretation given
to the stone seems rational and probable but
how could writer who seems otherwise so
intelligent say that hitherto here, within the
borders of America, no traces of this ycnera-
bic religion (Phalic worship had been found,
when Phalic remains, it is well known,
have been found all over the Western Hcmis
phcrc from Oregon to Patagonia
Complying with suggestion recently of
fcred by The Smithsonian Institute the Rock
fora Scientific Society has undertaken the task
OF exploring and locating the various circular
and animal-shapcd mounds which liz in large
numbers along both banks of Rock River.
Their latest expedition was to series OF tu-
null situated about five miles south Of the
city, and, aside from flint implements and the
like, their chief discovery was the complete
skeleton of Il man who must have lowered
prceminent among his fellows some two or
three thousand years ago for tolcrabiy ac-
Curatc measurements based upon the known
proportions of the human body, places his
height at nearly seven feet and four inches.
Although, upon exposure to the air, many
bones crumblcd at once to nothingncss, there
was ample time for noting many facts of i'm
portancc. The remains lay facing to the east
end of the river the legs were drawn up, and
the arms reached down as though the hands
might have been tied or Clasped about the
knees Indeed there was Il general suggestion
of collie about the way in which the antique
duiler was doubled up. In getting out the
skull and jaw-bOnes the same unexplained
fact was noted which has often presented It
self in previous finds " Of this kind, Some
terrible upward stroke had crashed through
the bones on the right side of the face with
sufficient force to cause instant death. 1t
would require peculiar weapon or peculiar
mode of sacrifice to deal such blow, and a
feeble idea of its character may be gained by
noting that pugilist's Undergrad hit be
meath the chin might duplicate the smashing
process to "A slight extent. The teeth alone
were found tn be in good order and fine pres
ervation. They were much worn, but other
wise perfect, and garnishcd a brace of mighty
Jaws that would have found it no inconveni-
ence to operate at secOnd-clasS hotel table. In
connection with the skeleton were traces of an
attempt at cremation burned stone, bits OF
charcoal, and the like Lastly, the mound
was circular in shape, about twenty-ieet IN
diameter, and rose three feet above the natural
| level of the prairie. The relics were obtained
at depth of from four to six inches to five
| feet.
Not very far distant from the site of the dis
covcrics the famous Rockford tablet was un-
carthed in the summer of 1874 1t is, as yet,
unique in importance, and may possibly prove
| the first link IN chain of evidence which will
! give us some definite knowledge concerning
the mysterious mOund-build.rS but, strange
Il say, it has never been hitherto described.
One or two country editors who saw il con
ccalcd their ignorance of its real value 10
lcthology beneath a cloud OF adjcctives which
told nothing, and left the reader in doubt
whether the stone which had elected such a
ilatulency of words was big a. IA mountain or
small as a mole-hill \ little latter, the ques-
ton of ownership arose, and Que of the party
llugged the tablet away to the sacred priv
acy " (ride Mr.. Wilkes London cttcrs) of his
home. OF course it ought to be in the custo-
dy of the Smithsonian Institution, for il sug-
gests, not "A theory, but a series OF facts which
il might be well to follow To their ultimate
conclusion. To begin with, The stone Is near
! w three and one. half inches long and two in
ches wide. The engraved SIDE Is surrounded
by series of straight lines placed at AN angle
OF As deg. To the edges. thus maAng the orna-
mentation a succession vi dsmiIIs and half
diamonds. The central aud uIpr portion of
the tablet is occupied iiy tu-.,. Of The sun
overland by figure 81 The ny, moan. The
suns surface is filled Ia ia ,.c "details of a
human face, while the IN. .. et IN rests up
on the forehead is divide, o.. .i,c lines in
to five sections, the alternate oncs-the second
1 ard fnur7h-lainn Hnff.al i.nifax tla-a and
filing the lower two-thirls ol r,aire, is u