The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-02-14

q Jones, who, on penetrating three feet
from the upper surface, came to bed
of charcoal and ashes from to inches in
depth, in which many skeletons of persons
OF various ages, from infancy to old age,
were found. Digging three feet deeper,
more human bones, and a piece of mica
were turned up and also tablet of Waverly
sandstone 81 inches wide, Az long and of
an inch thick. On both sides OF this tablet
there are certain tracings or markings, ey-
identity of great antiquity, the significance
OF which only an archaologist can deter
m1ne.l The whole of these tracingS are
surrounded by an arrow, similar in general
appearance to those In use among those
who draw the bow. This tablet was named
the Richardson tablet, in honor of the dis
coverer. Further Investigations were now
discontinued, owing to the severity of the
cold and the opening was refilled. On the
18th OF the following month of February,
new excavation was made by the same
persons and resultedf in the discovery of
what is now known as the ''Welch Butter
| fly" This is certainly one of the most re-
markable relics Of the Mound Builders
IN this country. This tablet, the anthem
ITCHY of which has been questioned, if
genuine, establishes, beyond question, the
existence OF highly civilized race, who
| inhabited the continent at a period long
prior to that of our North American
Indians. A brief account of the tablet
may enable you to form an opinion on the
mooted question of its authenticity. The
most notable object on the tablet Is the
figure OF man, large and well formed,
and OF large proportions. The features
are bold, massive and well cut. The head
IS OF the beachy cephalic type and squarely
o1,d oh y,
IL is the figure of man, belonging to a
physically superior race. 1t is claimed by
the finders of the tablet that several inter-
estlng questions are put to rest by 1t. It
Illustrates, they assert, the use that was
made OF a certain half moon-shaped stone
implement that is frequently met in archa-
illogical collections, viz: An ornament.
hand hold or finish to theHspear, or axe
handle. Another mooted question is also
settled, that of the manner. of fastening
the spear or axe upon their handles and
another Important matter Is set at rest,
and that is, that the SO-called Indian battle
axe is not Of Indian origin, but belongs to
people who evinced a skill in the forma-
ton OF implements devoted to warfare, or
the chase, farsin advancelof the red men,
who only made use of the labor of other
hands. On the left wing OF the Butterfly
there is a square or tablet on which there
are many strangely wrought figures of
angles. curves, circles, squares, &c. What
is hidden beneath these symbolical repre-
sentations or hieroglyphicsfof the origin,
habits and the life and language of the
Mound Builders only one deeply versed
in antiquarian lore can say. The reverse
Of the tablet is inscribed with four figures,
first, that Of well dressed woman, sup
posed to be holding in her hand u mica
mirror the second is a rattlesnake in the
act OF striking at a third animal to it's rear
and upon the left extremity of the tablet
In front of the female figure is the fourth
figure, that of a crocodile. The result of II
close examination Of this tablet by the
discoveries, by DR.. WEIGH. Mr.. Fornshall
and others, cause them to hold and express
the firm belief that it establishes the fact
that prehistoric man upon the American
continent, possessed written language
not a pictorial language, but language
composed of different and distinct char
acters, well and plainly written.
Some dlScredlt, as you are probably
aware, has been attempted to be thrown
upon the genuineness Of the 'sWelch But
terfy'' by the charge, that 1t was found at
a second examination of an explored site,
but it is distinctly stated by Messrs Rich
ardsOn and Jones, that while 1t was dis
covered on second visit to the mound, it
was after another Tor new excavation was
made and they declare that the part of the
mound in which it was found, had not
been previously dug into or disturbed. 1t
is also objected that it is not mentioned
by whom the stone was found, to which it
is replied that it was immaterial, whether
it was first seen by Mr.. Richardson Oh his
or his assistant. A further objection that
the dress of the male and female figures
alike bear no resemblance to the dress of
any savage or barbarian race, IS thus met,
namely, that no one is authorized in face
of what we know, to assume that the
mound builders were a savage and barba-
rian people. but on the contrary, there is
much evidence to prove. not only that
they were civilized, but highly civilized,
that they wOve cloth and understood the art
Of cutting, fitting and sewing, or making up
clothing. 1t is also known that cloth has
been found in this county and in Mont
| gOmery. AS many as twenty different
| grades of this ancient cloth are now in the
possession of Mr.. Richardson, some being
| fine and evenly woven as the muslin COM
mon in the shops of Ohio forty years ago.
Other less serious objections are made
to the genuinenesS of the tablet, but it
| is hardly necessary to enumerate them.
It may perhaps be proper to add that
Mr.. Pect, editor of the antiquarian, pro-
l lOuuCSSi bllS- obOu0 d 1Ittuu, I6Iudrk1IlR Ill
| his paper, /" the tablets discovered shows
| some acquaintance with archaeology, and
what is remarkable, they seem to keep
pace with the progress of discovery, the
1 symbols or characters discovered at one
time, giving rise to those fabricated later,
| so strangely rising to climacteric evil
dence. This itself. to our mind, is token
of fraud. The evidence of archaeology
| should be accumulative, not climacteric. y
To this it is rejoined that If such language
means anything at all, it simply means
that the best must not be discovered first,
but rather must be reached by degrees !;
| first the poorest, last the best. DR.. Pect
also says, 1--WE lhe) have long known that
gagged in manufacturing relics and plant
ing them.n In reply, he is asked to name
| who they are, where the mandatory is
located and why he has not exposed them
| The worthy Doctor expresses fear that
MessfS. Welch & Richardson. Jones and
others, have been deceived. If, say these
| gentlemen, those capable of judging as to
the genuieilesS of the Welch Butterfly and
who have seen it, are satisfied, those who
| never saw it, should be cautious, however
capable, about expressing an opinion. .
Such are the simple facts connected
with the discovery of this remarkable
relic-the leading arguments pro and con
as to its genuineneSs. Imay add, the in
terest it excites is quite unlike that crea-
ted by the stone implements, arrow heads
and lance points, hammers. bark peelers,
&c., found in every part of our country,
particularly on our western water courses.
These remains of human art and industry
do not indicate an extreme antiquity
they are too numerous, as also the evil
dences Of their recent manufacture on
large scale, to do so. They are obviously
the remains Of our Red men. The WEIGH
Butterfly, on the contrary, speak of the
existence of a primitive race, populous,
nOmadic. idolatrous A race which has
ma lie considerable progress in civilization.
in m nlfacturing people who possessed
political institutions, national manners
and religion. and in a word, it tends to eX-