The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-09-01
THE MOUND-BUILDERS.


Plausible Propositions in Regard to An
Client Society in Tennessee.
Patient and systematic research, a
vast accumulation of valuable mate
rial, and a thorough analysis of facts
and theories by competent authority,
have finally unraveled nearly all the
secrets of these works and graves, I'M
til their origin and the mysteries of
their construction and of ancient do
nestle life in Tennessee-and,i indeed,
elsewhere in the Mississippi valley
represented by them are nearly as well
known as the life and history of the
modern Indians.
The conclusions reached Gotten I'M
willingly as the result of these inves-
LEGATIONS in all departments Of research,
historic, ethnologic and traditional,
may be briefly stated as follows:
1.-The progress made by these
ancient tribes in the direction of civili-
cation or standardization has been
over-estimated. The stone-grave race
and the builders of ancient mounds and
earth-works in Tennessee and probably
in the Mississippi valley were Indians,
North American Indians, probably the
ancestors OF the Southern red or cop
per-colored Indians found by the
whites in this general section, a race
formerly living under conditions of life
somewhat different from that of the
more nomadic hunting tribes of In
dams, but not differing from them in
the essential characteristics of the In
dian race.
2.-The interesting collections of
mounds, earth-works and stone-graves
found in Tennessee and Southern Ken
lucky are simply the remains OF ancient
fortified towns, villages and settle
ments, once inhabited by tribes of In
dians more devoted to agriculture and
more stationary in their habits than
the hunting tribes generally known to
the whites.
3.-No single implement or article Of
manufacture or earth-work or defen-
sive work has been found among their
remains indicating intelligence or ad-
vancement in civilization beyond that
of other Indians having intercourse
with the whites within the historic
period.
4.-The accumulation of dense popu-
lation in favored localities, and progress
made toward civilization, were proba-
I bly, the results of periods Of repose and
peace that enabled these tribes to col
lect in more permanent habitations,
and to pursue for time more peace
full modes of life than some of their
neighbors and successors.
5.-These periods of peace and adj
vancement were probably succeeded
by years OF wars, invasions, migrations,
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 am satisfied can
be successfully maintained, and will
afford the most reasonable solution of
archaeological problems long in con-
troversy.
If we could have been given a
glimpse of the fair valley of the Cum
berland in 1892, the date of America s
discovery, there can scarcely be q
doubt but that we would have found
many OF these ancient 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.-Ge General Thurs.
ton, IN Magazine Of American History.