The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1884-02-08
WHO WERE THE MOUND BUILDERS |
Editors Democrat: /:

In answer to numerous request ts,
give you brief account Of recent de-
velopmsnts Of the marks Of ancisnt
mound builders of Linn county. 40.
cording to previous arrangements Messrs
Alfred Blevins, jas. Audaway and the
undersigned. last week, with pick and
shovel started for mounds situated q
half mile weat Of Mr.. Blcvins, house
and seven miles southwest of Albany,
hoping to find something that would
excite tho attention Of the curious 10 shs
Investigation Of the "thiAss that wore. "
From this place for space Of seven or
eight miles up and nsarsthe banks Of
the CaiaPcoia river there ara a number
Of these mounds, but no one bsfore, 30
far a. l have been able to learn, has
attempted their exploration. The
mound that we selected toydlg the frsl
prospect hole Ia il aboat two hundred
feet long from east 10 west and one
hundred feet vide frem north 10 south.
On the south side Is an oak stump, or
snag, thirty inohes Ia diameter. Either
from age or storm this tree had fallen
many years ago. Ga the nerthws end
there Is a standing oak tree about two
feet in diameter. On the north side II
an oak stump, the tree having fallen AZ
The frst mentioned, that by measure
ment is forty-two inches in diameter.
Years ago Mr. Blevens cut frem The
cop and trunk Of this tree 'thrse or four
cords Of wood. Twenty feet eass of this
ID . growing 6r tree that 10 between
three and half and four toes threugh.
These trees are all on the edges of the
mound and from observations we decid-
cd that they had grown entire since the
mounds were built. Smaller trees and
much undsrbruIh arc 10 DO found grow.
lag psrmiscously over the mennd.
This mound is in all respects similar 10
others in the vicinity and q description
Of the general exterior Of one Is q de-
scription Of all. Tho surface soil any
where in the vicinity Is . yelIowish,
tenacious clay, aImost as adbersnt as
glue. Tho soil composing the mounda
Is black, rich loan, similar N beaver
dam soil or the alluvium Of river bot
TEN that is subject to annual inunda-
tions. From the foot 10 the top Of the
mound ID . gradual ascent. The enc
We gave most attention 10, and that I
am attempting TO describe, is OF average
siss and height with the remainder.
Near each mound there is large hole
corresponding ia lOngth and width to
the adjacent mound. At this time Of
the year those holes are full Of water
which prevented TN from examining
their bottom soil. Large trees are
thickiy studded throughout these lakes.
No doubt but what dirt com posing these
mounds was transported by human hands
from these lagoons. The sides Of these
mounds are uniformly smooth but when
the top is reached occasional dspressions
of various widths and lengths, from ten
TO twslve inches deep, are found. In
one of those deprsssions We determined
TO sink shaft. The black dirt of which
tho mound was composed would have
been easily sboveled had il not bsen for
complete net work Of large roots from
adjacent trees. We laid of land four
by nine feet and proceed to ply the
shovel. When four festdswn We found
human skeleton lying on the right
aide, head to the west, facing the south,
hand under the head, tho legs hsxed
with the knees drawn up towards the
abdomen, as il in quiet sleep. Tho
only trinkets found with i. were fsw
hints, two or three rudimentary arrow
heads made Of black fnit, four beaver
tusks,!a q bone about three inches long
the size Of lead pencil at one end and
gradually sloping to q sharp point. This
awl We supposed to have been bis kit
of tailoring implements. A pipe three
and half inches long, one and half
iscbes vide at top and one inch at the
bottom. Near the bottom there il q
crease cut around the bowl and small
hole passing from surface 10 central
cavity. There was no tobacco scent rec.
ognizable, but it il reasonable to suppose
that the great length of time it must
have been in the ground would remove
ell odor, and it is equally as reasonable
to suppose that as this Indian weed ia
not indigenous to Oregon soil, substi-
tute was used. The pipe is composed
of hard, light cslored rock, free from
sand or other grit. Lying near the
pipe was fat rock ten by twelve in
ches, apparently soft slate and unlike
anything usually mot with in this 10
cality. A few years ago similar rock
was picked up on one of these mounds
on which were carved numerous hero
glyphiss. Before attempting particu-
larly to describe the skeletons I will
describe their position and earthly
wealth. Four feet north and in direct
line with No I wa came aaroas Nj. 9.