Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-01
GRAVE CREEK MOUND.
Something About This Monument Of Pre-.
historic America.
A Tablet which Has Excited the In-
terest OF Scientific Men I'm This
Country aud Abroad.
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

opeSlAA correspondence OF The Evening star.
MOUNDSNILLE. W. Va, Aug. g.
One OF the most interesting and remark
able monuments Of prehistoric America Is
here. looming up grandly on the beautifua
crescent-shaped plateau which conposes the
famous Grave Greek Flats of earlier
days. The locale is where the l3altirnois
railroad strikes the Ohio river, twelve miles
below Wheeling.
Grave Greek Mound is seventy feet in per-
pendicular height, q handsome symme:rl-
cal cone. slightly truncatel. This mound
was eXcavatei some years ago. and many
important discoveries made therein. The
excavation consisted of a horizontal drtrt
from the eastern base TO he center III feet.
then by a shaft 20 the summit. Some inter-
esting features were revealed 10y these cut
tings. At the center Of :he base a chamber
in ruins was discovered, containing TIVE
human skeletons with numerous hone. stone
and shell ornaments, mica plates. &c
second chamber was found at Ihirty-flNe
feet. which contained a single human fraIIIe
IN tolerabie preservation. with many per
sonal ornaments, fine copper wsistlets.
shells. beads. &c. But a more important
discovery n small lat sandstone, about
the size of a silver dollar. bearing twenty
three characters and one telegraph sfRsi.
This Is the celebrated brave creek tablet,
which has attracted wide attention. asd
provoked no little cynical criticism from
tyros end ignoramuses who cared not te
learn the facts.
This tablet has been described by rromi-
nent scientists at home Anl abroad. Nj.
Schoolcraft visited the mound and I'm
carefully prepared paper for the Ethnologi-
cal Society described the discovery. and
particularly the tablet Professor Rafha II
| Copenhagen, Paron Jomard, SIR ]. AlexaI-
der. and other distinguished scientists
abroad have studied the inscription AMI
published their views. or our own authors.
Br. II. Has, in an exhaustive PAPER be-
Historical
scribed IL. 1t is regarded as the rlost inter
esting and valuable discovery of Inscribed
characters yet made in critical North
America archaeology. l. establishes
one OF two facts: First. the mound
builders Possessed knowledge 81
written characters. or there wds
European adventurer in 'he Ohio
valley centuries before :he time of Colu.n-
bus. The characters bear striking resem-
bance to several early Nell: erfanean ia
scrfptions. OF which the Phoe1ician may he
regarded es type. and .sreek. Pelassisu.
Bsrdic. and others as cognat@s. Discover
les at Olympus, Cyprus, and elsewhere re-
veal Inscriptions bearing marked --esemE
blance to this Ohio ruin tablet
This tablet was not the only inscfhc1
stone found in this interesting srchaeoiJgls
cal field. Several years before the excavas
ton of the Mammoth Mound. as locally
called. an engraved stone was taken from
a smaller mound about one mile east OF the
large tUmulus. IL was deposited in Hsmps
den sydney College. Nirg1nil: other relics
bearing characters and scuipturings have
been taken from mounds composing the
Grave creek system. most ~ which have
shared the fate Of the mounds IN the ives;
The pubic win learn with regret that the
great mound is in Imminer.t dam
ger, of obstruction. The proprietor SAYS 10
Intends TO remove IL unless friends az
science come forward to saw Z. Tho West
Virginia Historical ard antiquarian So
ciety is asked TO aid. The proprietor claims
| that the site will make eligible building
| lots. and the material can be advantageous
ly disposed Of
The society Is now making an effort 20
save this grand monument If antiquity, and
an appeal has gone out 70 an apDr.cia.:he
public to aid in the praiSsGorthv object.
The mound must be saved. J ais mound 80
really the most interesting monument %
the past that remains to of the Nnre-
corded race which mas ei.asn rs this re
mento OF their power and spri. OF com
bined action. Let IL be preserved. is rhe
| earnest wish Of every student ana citizen
who values the history Of h.s native land.