Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-09-25
ANOTHER RACE,
Strange Relics Of the MoundbuiId.
ers In the Northwest.

Strange neilCS OF the MOun0buiJos
ers In the Northwest.
Prof. L. IL Lewis. the archaoIogist,
OF ST. Paul, has been. exploring the
country around ID Jamestown. N. D., for
relics OF the moundbuilders. He has
surveyed over 200 mounds among tho
bluffs bordering the valley. and some
thirty-five arounl Spirit Wood Lake.
The finest group OF earth works in that
region Is on the bluff about two miles
south of Montpelier. on the south side
OF Beaver Creek. and west of the river.
The work is parallelogram in ground
plan. and encloses some twenty acres.
At the northeast corner there is conf
cal mound. twelve feet high. At the
southeast corner there Is q truncated
mound, eight feet high. and at the
northwest corner there is another of
the same height. These three corners
are connected by embankments that
average two feet in height. From the
northwest mound there is another en-
bankment OF about the same height.
running in q southerly direction to the
head OF a ravine forming the third side.
The north bank of the ravipe is steep.
and defends the south side. so that a
wall is necessary. The walls on the
three sides were probably palisaded,
and there is an opening or gateway on
the north and another on the west side
1t is evident that the, mounds were
built first as monuments. There are
thirteen mounds in addition to the
walls forming the enclosure. and the
earth in all OF them was carried from Il
distance.
Circles composed OF half buried
boulders abound over IA vast area of
the Northwest, from Manitoba to the
northern Iowa line. and from St. Paul
to Great Falls, Mont. They are par
ticularly abundant along the Missouri.
Big Sioux and James river valleys.
and nearly all are found near lake or
watercourse. The present Indian
tribes Of the Dakotas know nothing OF
their origin. These rings OF boulders
show great antiquity. The compare
lively rainless region is peculiarly
adapted for preserving them, and hun
dreds OF years must elapse before large
boulders are covered by the ordinary
forces OF nature. Yet in many of tae
circles, on high, gravelly points, the
boulders are just visible on the sur
face. while excavation shows that
many are buried out of sight entirely.
One large circle discovered near
jamestown has Il thickly set stone
pavement two feet wide bordering the
circle, with another circle of large
boulders around the outside Of the
pavement. 80
In addition to these circles. there
are stone heaps and mounds undoubt-
edly used as large burial places. Be-
tween jamestown and Lamour Prof
Lewis estimates tn t there arc 500
of these stone heaps. He is of the
opinion that they have been loft by a
race succeeding the original mound
builders, whose work is so common in
that locality. Evidences OF mound
builders are found in every truncated
cone. Near Montpelier there have
been discovered copper Ratchet and
chisel. The earthworks and embank-
ments show an advanced knowledge
in architecture, while the precision
with which the walls are constructed
shows great intelligence and care. In
excavating, the round mounds are not
as prolific in specimens OF bones, ETC.,
but whenever truncated mound is
found anywhere across its top. within
three or four feet, abundant specimens
may be had. Most Of these mounds
are filled with bones, showing the inn
mense number OF people that lived on
these prairies concerning whom his
tory and tradition gives no clue.