The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-15


extensive mound which contained large vaults
in which were from FIVE to twenty or more sets
OF human bones, which had been placed there at
their septennial national funerals. Other vaulted
mounds, in which the nations dead had been
buried at three more successive periods, are
found near Fairbanks in the northwest part of
of the county Mounds are SO common in Vigo,
Vermillion, Parke and Warren counties as to
scarcely attract attention
AT Covington, in Fountain county, sepul-
chral mound was excayated and removed for
building purposes. In the center was found, In a
sitting posture, the skeleton of a man of stalwart
frame. His implements of the chase and his or
naments, seven copper hatehets, FIVE coppersrods
supposed to be spear heads, a number of per
forated copper beads with arrow points and
axes were beside him to tighten his labor In the
other world. Still more important as a prince
or priest could not well appear in the other
world without attendants, i've other persons
wives or slaves, were found placed with their
heads near his body, their feet radiating out
ward ike the spokes of wheel The whole was
covered with white sand, brought from the dis
tant river bar inclosing the group, of the head
of the central figure we'll as the feet of the at
tendants This was covered over with clay
then another coat of sand two inches thick was
added, and yellow clay for the remainder of the
mound, reaching the height of six feet, had been
transported distance of more than two miles.
Considerable mounds are found in the counties
of White, Jasper, Newton and in other parts Of
northern Indiana. There are none of any con-
sequence in Marion county
1.-The most unique and best-preseryed earth
works in the State, or in the Union, are on the
bank of White river in Madison county, about
three miles from Anderson, on the line of the
Bee-ne railway. The upper work is circular
embankment, with deep ditch on the inside.
The central area is 1873 feet in diameter and con-
tains mound in the center four feet high and
thirty feet in diameter. The gateway on the
south side is thirty feet wide. Carriages may
enter at the gateway and drive around, as the
ditch terminates at the gateway. The ditch ID
sixty feet wide and ten and a half feet deep.
The embankment is sixty three feet wide at the
base and sixty-nine feet high The entire
diameter of the circle is 384 feet. 1t is still
surrounded In part by the original forests, giant
trees, from three to four feet in diameter. Ad
joining are many small circles. some with interior
bitches and some without Other works, some
whatlike the figure eight represented four arcs
of circle They are situated on bluff seventy
five feet above White river, with bold spring of
excellent water at the base. Half a mile further
up the river is a cluster of earthworks of great
regularity and of high interest The upper
work is repetition of the form of the four arcs
OF a circle of which the wall is thirty five feet
wide at the base. four feet high, with a ditch
eight feet wide. The entrance is to the north
east and is 296 feet long and l60 feet across at
its widest part, and $50 feet at the
narrowest part near the middle.
Two circular mounds guard the entrance.
These mounds surrounded by natural for
eStS, are memorable not only LOT Cnelr eAtenC,
but their perfect state of preservation They
were certainly not built for warlike or defensive
purposes, but were probably connected with some
holier function The absence of warlike imple
ments indicated peaceful, quietrace With their
imperfect implements the making of these monu
ments was not merely labor of TASTE but it was
directed and governed by strong controlling
power. AS an indication of long occupancy, a few
surviving chestnut trees from southern Indiana
had been planted and still live to tell the story
of the r nut orchards and the food used by this
extinct people"
The location of these mounds combines pictur
esque scenery susceptibility for defense, and
ductive lands These are not requisites in the
nomadic life of the savage red men and identify
the mound builders as partially civilized agri-
cultural people Their religion may be inferred
from their faith in immortality, exhibited by the
deposit of food and implements in the graves of
their honored dead, and in the careful prepare
ton of sepuchral mounds"