New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-20

c,hiuteothe Ohio. Nov. IA (speciap.-Gerard
Fowke, an archeologlst Of this city, seems uss
tined to take in the archaeological world nuch ui
same position which John Burroughs has assumed
In the circle Of nature writer's Nearly every one
remembers the vigorous thrashinG given oy MI
Burroughs not lons ago to certain members OF the
nature school, and Mr. Fowke has similarly aP-
piled the fail to the writer's OF recent books on the
mound builders Mr.. Fowks has devoted nuch
time to the examination of the remains or the
mound builders. From 1885 to 1883, and rom 1884
to 1898, he engaged IN explorations anu SUI
veys OF aboriginal remains IN the eastern halL Oh
the United States. in connection with the Bureau
of Ethnology. In 1898 the American Museum OF
Natural History sent him voyage along the
AInoor River. in Siberia. for the purpose OF tac-
ing the origin of the mound builders, and LOT the
last year he has been examining the aoorisHaAi
remains along the Mississippi Valley Work
which will continue several years more The result
of these Investigations has led him to say;
1.-THE erroneous ideas OF persons. otherwise wen
informed, concerning archaeological matters Would
amaze one who could attain to any considerable
KNOWLEDGE OF the science without previously be-
coming familiar, to some extent. with the many
absurd theories and notions promulgated BY au-
thors ignorant OF their subject and writing only 10
strike the popular mind and pocket The tendency
Of most OF these works-and the exceptions are
not to be found among those OF greatest fame and
widest crculatcn-is to indulge IN sentiment with
much regard to facts; to appeal to the readers
emotions instead of to his reason; to induce
FERROUS disappearance OF q numerous and interest
ing people. instead OF furnishing any information
about them; adroitly to rehash old matter and
present 1t in a new and attractive FORM thereby
gaining for the compiler the reputation OF being
great and learned man
''It may seem harsh thus to characterize them.
but milder phraseology scarcely seems admissible.
Even allowing full honesty OF purpose. the rhapsc-
dies of i'll informed enthusiasts a harmful
the deliberate misstaternents OF intentional deceiv-
and TaaIfr- Of fu7f
that the widespread desire for accurate information
most interesting subject Is met and perforcs
satisfied with such trash forms the bulk OF
archaeological literature.
Since the time OF Squier and Davis. who more
than forty years ego published the results of what
purported to be a careful and critical survey Of
mounds and other remains in the Scioto Valley.
there have forced themselves upon public attention
hosts OF writer's who. knowing nothing but what
they have read. and unable to interpret even that
correctly. have flooded tho market with books that
cause feverish excitement in the minds OF those
who are really interested In study OF the pre-
historic condition of our country.
MAINLY by reason Of the teaching OF these
sciolsts there are many widely prevalent ideas
which are at variance with all observed facts.
so far has yet been discovered. the mound
builders could not build stone wall that would
stand up In the absence of springs streams they
could procure water only by excavating shallow
pond: they could not even wall up a spring when
one was convenient. They left not stone used In
building that shows any mark o. dressing tool
Their mounds and embellishments were built by
bringing loads Of earth. larger than per-
son could easily carry. in baskets skins. as Is
proved by the hundreds OF Iens-shaped masses OBJ
servable in the larger mounds. They had not the
slightest knowledge of the economic use Of metals
treating what little they had sort Of maIleable
stone; even galena, which it impossible they
could have used without discovering it's low melt
ing point Is always worked If worked at all. as
a piece Of slate or other ornamental stone would
be- They left nothing to indicate that any system
OF written language existed among them. the few
steroeIvphics' on the inscribed tablets having no
more significance than the modern carving by
bow on the smooth bark OF the beech. else being
deliberate frauds-generalIy the latter in the
of the more elaborate specimens. They had not
single beast Of burden. unless accept the proof
offered by a New-York author that they har-
messed I'D mastodons and worked them. Beyond
peddliug from tribe tribe few ornaments or
other small articles that could easily carry.
or transport in a canoe. they had no trade COM
merce.
Now, is there possible. under such circum-
stances anything in the nature OF what may be
called civilization? Can conceive OF people
as possessing even a slight degree Of culture who
are lacking in any Of these particulars?
Fort Ancient has furnished prolific ground for
wondermongers. AT the foot of the hill which
the three terraces situated the current Of the
Little Miami has a deep hole in passing from
a bed OF stone and hard clay to OF finer. looser
material Washouts OF this character are COM
u.on but no such explanation Of it's origin meets
the approval Of at least visitor to the place"
Regarding passage from Hosea's Fort An
Gent" page 2sS In which 1t Is asserted that this
sort OF subterranean and secret way Of eommuni-