The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-15
INDIANA M0UND-BUILDERS.
Where Traces Of This Curious Prehis-
tOric Race Are Found in This State.
Prof Collett Discourses Upon These Most In
teresting Tumuli-"0ld Tippecanoe's"
/ Early Researches.

'SThe State of Indiana, said Professor Col
lett, State Geologist ION account of its climate,
animals, water-courses. grand forests, and rich
productive soil, may well be an object of inte--
est to her people,"
Now when the Professor talks he is no DIR.
Dry -as-dust His archaic recollections are live
and interesting.
Tell me something about Indiana mounds
and mound builders" pleaded the reporter.
Said the Professor: 1.-THE prehistoric race of
mound builders. while only enough advanced to
take the first steps in civilization, by their ex-
tsnsivs works and their communal labors, were,
from these evidences, united race, governed by
q strong political or religious power, which was
able TO control masses of men and united their
forces in war or peace. The erection of their
mounds and their works proves that while ideas
OF utility were predominant, still beyond
these, and perhaps OF higher worth, was their
care for the beautiful. Their greater works are
surrounded by fertile plains, suitable for the
cultivation of corn and pumpkins. The pumpkin,
you know, is an American institution,
unknown to our European ancestors.
AS their only means of commerce
was by canoe navigation, their principal works
and mounds were all situated above high-water
mark, at or near the confluence of navigable
streams. In addition to this advantage, they
always commanded wide view of the surround
Sngs. AS necessity of the religion of their
builders, they had broad outlook to the east
30 as TO greet the morning appearance of the
sun, the fountain OF life and light, their daily
worshiped divinity.
There are many of these curious places in In
diana, and they are all worthy of visit. In
Randolph county, near Winchester is a notable
enc, 1t consists of a rectangular inclosure with
coarse angles, 1920 feet long and 1,080 feet
wide, an area of thirty-one acres. In the center
Of the Enclosure is a circular mound one hundred
feet in diameter and eight feet high This is
generally supposed to have been fort, yet, as
che mound builders were not warrior race,
but defended their chiefs, princes and religion
by bulwark of loving hearts, it is probable that
this work was for other than warlike purposes.
Other extensive mounds are found in the same
vicinity.
sPerhaps you did not know that General
William Henry Harrison has made the mounds
ct the mouth of the Miami river famous and his
torical by his researches and writings upon the
subject. These writings are still objects of in
terest to arch@ologists who desire to study the
philosophy and probable age of these mounds as
calculated by our first Territorial Governor.
"a stone wall inclosure on the Ohio river at
the mouth of Fourteen mile creek in Clark
county, has received the attention of Burton,
Putnam, Cox and Shaler. 1t is upon a com
manding eminence, protected by precipitous
fc nd 1onE
feet in height over the beautiful scenery of river
field and plain. There is a fine circular work
In the same county, two miles west of the
town Of New Washington. 1t is 600 yards
in circumference, and the wall is ten or twelve
feet wide, and at present fifteen twenty inches
high. The action Of the pillow has reduced the
height very much. The wall was not built for
defense, but was made up of the rejected mate
rial of mighty communal home, such as frag-
ments of bones, shells, and bits of broken pot
terry. The entrance to this work was to the
north, and indicates a race subsequent to the
mound builders. Many mounds, more or less
exeavated, exist on the banks of the Ohio oppo-
site Louisville, while others of special impor-
tance now tell the story of the lost races on the
missing lands, known as Corn island, at the falls
earthworks are found on the commanding knobs
along the Ohio, in the counties of Harrison,
Crawford ard Perry From their SUBMITS a
fiGe outlook is given of the beautiful valley and
In the dim, blue distance of the far-off mountain
knobs Of Kentucky.
Gas we approach the confluence of the Wabash
and Ohio higher civilization of these ancient
dwellers beginS-the highest mechanical art of
that ancient age. Near Newburg, in Vanderburg
county artistic ornaments made of alabaster,
nd 4hac ,,c orvoo al Ayfff
found. The extensive wall lines occur frequently
short distance to the west of the town of New
burg. Here are the Angel mounds 90 feet in
height 200 feet m diameter, perfect in their
beautiful symmetry, and conspicuous exhibits OF
the engineering skill of their builders At
Elberhardt, in Warrick county, there ia a
'chungke' ground where they played their
games with discoidal stones with lofty
less. the sachems and wise men over
looked the pastlme OF the young war
riors. In Posey county extensive works are
rare, but mounds are common and worthy of
high interest from the fact that here race of
people lived, who, in addition to the ordinary
cares of life, exhibited high degree of aesthetic
taste. Their ornaments were of alabaster, can
mel coal, copper, magretlc-iron ore, Wabash
pearls, and shells perforated as beads A high
skill is seen IN the manufacture of strings of
tiny bells of copper, interlinked with other orna-
Tnents. The pearl beads were of the same kind
that excited the wild interest of DeSotos caya-
liers in their march to the Mississippi
ttknoX county is famous for its mounds. They
are so marked and extensive that it has been
supposed to have been heliopolis-a central city
of the worshlpers. The Square Loaf mound at
Vincenness, famous in historical story, is built
.p against the side of the stiff bluffs of the val
lev until it commands a wide view of the pIs-
teau to the east. 1t was, as excavations show,
some kind of a building temple, four or five
stories high from which the priest on watch in his
oratory in the summit, could with his holy
drum, summon his people to the alteration of the
rising sun Another temple mound on the line
Of the Evansville & Terre Haute railway, short
distance southeast of Vincennes, is of pyramidal
form, with fat top suitable for the exercises
of the priesthood and religion. A mound at a
abort distance northeast of Vincennes has q
pathway winding along its sides from its eastern
base to its western summit. Other tumuli,
mounds of habitation and for burial purposes,
are found near the banks of the Wabash One