Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-08-02
THE MOUND BUILDERS.
Propositions in Regard to Ancient Society in
Tennessee

Propositions in Regard to Ancient Society in
Tennessee.
Patient and systematic research, vast
accumulation of valuable material, and
thorough analysis OF facts and theories by
competent authority, have finally I'M
| raYelled nearly all the secrets Of these
works and graves, until their origin and
the mysteries of their construction and
ancient domestic life in Tennessee-and,
indeed, elsewhere In the Mississippi val
| ley-represented by them are nearly as
we'll known as the life and history OF the
modern Indians.
The conclusions reached (often unwiIl-
ingly) as the result of these investiga-
tions IN all departments of research his
torlc, ethnOlogic and traditional, may be
briefly stated as follows:
1.-The progress made by these ancient
| tribes In the direction of civilization or
| standardization has been over estimated.
The stone-Erave race and the builders of
| the ancient mounds and earthworks in
Tennessee and probably in the Mississip-
pi valley were Indians, probably the an
cestOrs of the southern red or copper
ccl0red Indians found by the whites in
| this general section, a race formerly liv-
| ing under conditions OF life somewhat
| different from that of the more nomad-
| &c hunting tribes of Indians, but not
| differing from them IN the essential
characteristics of the indian race.
2.-The interesting collections of
hounds, earlhwOrks and stone-graves
found in Tennessee and southern Ken
lucky are sim ply the remains of ancient
fortified towns, villages and settlements,
once inhabited by tribes more devoted
to agriculture and more stationary in
their habits than the hunting tribes gem
orally known to the whites.
3.-No single implement or article of
manufacture or earthwork or defensive
work has been found among their remains
indicating intelligence or advancement in
civilization beyond that of other Indians
having intercourse with the whites within
the historic period.
4.-The accumulation of dense popula-
ton in favored localities, and progress
made toward civilization, were probably
the results of periods ofrepose and peace
that enabled these tribes to collect in
more permanent habitations, and to pur-
sue for time more peaceful modes of
life than some of their neighbors and sue
cessors.
5.-These periods of peace and advance
ment were probably succeeded by years
of wars, invasions, mig cations, or changes
which arrested the limited development in
the arts of peace and civilization, and
left the native tribes IN the status in
which they were found by the whites.
These propositions I am satisfied can
be successfully maintained, and will afford
the most reasonable solution of archmo-
logical problems long In controversy.
If we could have been given a glimpse
of the fair valley of the Cumberland in
1892, the date of Americas discovery,
there can scarcely be doubt but that
we would have found many of these an
cient settlements full of busy life, and We
could have learned the story of the
mounds and graves from some of their
own builders; but nearly three centuries
elapsed before the pioneers of civilization
reached the confines of Tennessee Gen.
Thurston in Magazine of American His
tory.