The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-04-27

stratum Of hard-baked clay or cement,
on the top OF which is found a LAYER
oil ashes, mingled with burnt shells
end bones. In several instances the first
thing struck after removing the earth from
The tops OF the mounds were fiat pieces OF
limestone joined together as tightly as
! though fitted by nature. Tn one mound
uneartbed on what Is called the Portage, a
short distance west OF this city. were found
bones indicating race OF gigantic sta
| ture. One immense skull was secured
which measured fifteen inches from the oc-
cipital TO the frontal bones. The largest
| mound in the Portage group which was
| explored was found TO be literally filed
| with bones, and sixteen skulls, all In a
good state of preservation, were re.
moved from the mass. In every one
was deep indentation on the left
side. little above and behind the
oritice Of the ear, as though crushed in
with blunt instrument. Relics were found
in the shape OF copper bodkins, chisels, and
wedges, all finely wrought; axes, arrows,
and spear-heads, made OF a species Of flint
not found in this region; singular and
finely. finished pear shaped implement OF
stone, probably used for skinning animals !;
great numbers OF the large teeth OF some
carnivorous animal, supposed to be the
bear, In some instances With q piece OF the
jaw attached and carved: large pearls. some
Of exquisite lustre, perforated to be strung,
and piece of pottery about twelve inches
in height, VI n-sbaped, round on the bottom,
and ornamented.
On top OF one OF the most romautic bluffs
in the Upper Mississippi country, about
eight miles from this city, overlooking what
is called Sand Prairie, are no less than a
hundred prehistoric mounds, uniform in
size, and ranged in rows Of from eight to
ten. They are located near the edge OF the
bluff, aud one large mound s'ahds like a
sentinel on the very point OF the eminence.
Behind this, and about twenty feet away, is
deep ditch, resembling somewhat the
Western sink-b hole. vet scooped out un-
doubtedIy by the same mysterious hands
which reared the mounds adjacent. Your
correspondent assisted in opening n half
dozen OF these mounds, which contained
nothing but fat stones, with bones under
meath.
In the township OF West Galena, on the
NickOl farm, are TO be found lines OF forti-
tications, built evidently for purposes OF
defence. They extend along the brow OF
high elevation, skirting the north side OF it
completely. Behind these embankmenis or
Notifications is fine level country. A sholt
distance to the rear OF and at the middle OF
The outer line OF works is mound in the
shape OF house, and at the northwest eX-
tremity Of the same line, and about an equal
distance behind j., Is another mOund in
the shape OF reptile. The Notifications
are about two feet in height. about eight
feet wide at the base. aud fully thirty feet
long. One or two of them have been tho
roughly explored, but nothing has been
found-nOt even bones.
A few Of our local sayans are talking Sc
riously of organizing an archaeological So
cietv for the purpose Of making scientific
explorations OF the mounds in this locality
and the establishment of a museum OF pre-
historic relics in this city.