The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1890-10-30
THE MOUND-BUllDERS,
Archaeological Lewis Finding Wonderf
Things In Dakota.

ArCnDOlO&tRC LOWS F1uO1nK wonderful
Things In Dakota.
Prof. 7. Fl. Lewis, the archmologist
Of St. Paul, has been exploring the
country around Jamestown, N. D., for
relics of the mound-builders. He has
surveyed over 200 mounds among the
bluffs bordering the .alley and some
thirty-fve around Spirit Wood Lake.
The finest group of earthworks in that
region is on the bluff about two miles
southwest of Montpelier on the south
side of Beaver Creek and west of the
river. The work is parallelogram in
ground plan, and incloses some twenty
acres. At the northeast corner there is
= conical mound, twelve feet high. At
the southeast corner there is truncated
mound eight feet high, and at the north
west corner there is another OF the same
height.
These three corners are protected by
entertainments that average two feet in
height. From the northwest mound
there is another cmbankment of about
the same height running in southerly
direction to the head of a ravine form
ing the third side. The north bank Of
the ravine is steep and defends the
south side, so that wall is unnecessary.
The walls on the three sides were prob
ably palisaded, and there is an opening
or gateway on the north and another on
the west side. 1t is evident that the
mounds wero built first as monuments.
There are thirteen mounds in addition
to the walls forming the inclosure, and
tho earth in all of them was carried
from distance.
Circles compo ed of half-buried bowl
Fders, abound over a vast area of the
Northwest, from Manitoba to the north
ern Iowa line, and from St. Paul to
Great Falls, Mont. They are particu-
iarly abundant along the Missouri, Big
Sioux and James River Valleys. and
noarly always are found near lake or
watercourse. The present Indian tribes
of the Dakotas know nothing of their
origin. These rings of powders show
groat antiquity. The comparatively
rainloss region is peculiarly adapted for
preserving them, and hundreds of years
must elapse before largo powders are
covered by the ordinary forces of n~ture.
Yet in many of the circles, on high
gravity points, the powders arc just Wis
ible on the surface, while excavation
shows that many are buried out of
sight entirely. One large circle discov-
ercd near jamestown has a tbickly set
stone pavement two feet wide bordering
tho circle, with another circle of large
powders around the outside of the
pavement.
In addition to these circles, there
arc stone heaps and mounds undoubt-
eddy used as large burial places. Be-
tween jamestown and Lamoure Prof.
Lewis estimates that there are five hun
dred OF those stone heaps. He is of the
opinion that they have been left by a
race succeeding the original mound
builders. whose works are so common
in that locality. Evidences of mound
builders are found in every truncated
como. Near Montpelier there have been
discovered, copper Ratchet and chisel.
The oarthworks and embankments 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, otc.. but wherever truncated
mound is found anywhere across its top,
within depth Of two or three feet,
abundant specimens may be had. Most
Of these mounds are filled with bones,
showing the immense number OF people
that lived on these prairies, concerning
which history and tradition give NO
si.A-Cleveland Leader.