The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-29

shSir antiquity These from mounds are
probably not more than S.eSo years old.
Those supporting TO be from beneath the
natural surface in uadisturbed deposits
would Imply an age varying with each
specimen "a be determined by Its sur
raundingS. The ore from Marlboro L. no
doubt honestly described by the persons
who wera present. but their attention was
nas specially directed 20 its antiquity.
IL was first seen as a bucket OF earth was
sfnptted at thu mouth OF the well. and
may have fallen in from the surface OF
very near ii. Indians on tho northern
lakes OF the present generation have done
a fine ei'isv carving as anything found
In the ancient earth mounds. Some oe
their work. however, Is very course A.
a general rnle the mound builders have
produced better and more finished animal
efsigies than their successors. the rcd n.
dian. but the difference in style 10 not %
manifest that II Is safe TO separate their
respective relics on this basis alone. Many
Of thu surface finds are no doubt the work
Of the mound builders. In collection OF
which nothing IS known OF their location
or shelr position IN the soil. 1t II not Drac-
sieahle 20 assert them according to the
races by whom they were fabricated.
There Is some reason 10 conclude thoe
there were people on this territory pe3oe
10 the builders OF the mounds. Our cave
shelters have not Been much explored. but
as far az they have been examined the
relics lying at the bottom OF the accumu.
sations Indicate a very rude people
We have at this time no evidence -
connect such a primevsl race with the
human efffgses scattered profSlsoiy
throughout Ohio. These efiigies present
no unfcrmitvos type. ard. therefore, co.,
not reprssent race features, They ap-
proach nearer 10 the North American saw.
'age than any other people. but are -
nncou;h that they are OF little or no eth
biological value. There was no school OF
art among either tho cave jewellers. the
builders OF the mounds. or the more re-
cent Northern Indians. which was cap
able Of correct representation OF the hu-
man face. These efficies must have heen
the result OF the faneies OF Idle hours. pro-
duced under ND system and with no unit
formi.y OF purpose. They thus have no
meaning which the historian or anti
ansFian can lay hold OF to advance his
knowledge OF the prehistoric races
The ancient painters and sculptoro OF
Central Amberica have not left specimens
OF high art, but they are far above those
OF North America. There ID In their
human del.neations no uniformity which
gives them value as the representations
Of living people. Living artists have no
other standard than the persons by whom
they are surrounded. The italian heads
OF Christ present the Italian features, not
the Jewish. On account Of the uniformity
OF design In Central American statues and
painting we feel consciousness that We
see In them the prominent features OF the
ancient people. whose ruins remain 20
our times. We cannot say ~ much 81
The ruins Of the Mississippi valley. The
builders here have not left us. like the
Assyrians and Egyptians. their por-
traits. nor any written or even pictorial
record OF themselves.