Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-04-16
State Historical Department
Makes Valuable Discoveries
Near Boone
MYSTERIOUS WALL UNCOVERED
Artificial Mound Opened to Prove of
Historical Value - Mound Appar-
emily Erected Over Many Fire
Places - Interesting Part Yet to
Como.
,necial to Times-Republlcan.

mound, supposed to be a relic of the
Mound Builders. of hundreds, per-
haps thousands of years ago, on the
river bottom about three quarters of
a mile south of the Boone viaduct
Work has been going on quietly on
the excavation Of this mound for about
week under the supervision of Cura-
tor E. r. Harlan, Of the state histor-
ical department. 1t was the idea Of
Mr.. Harlan to make secret excavations
until it was demonstrated that there
was something in it," and in case
nothing came of it, none would be the
wiser. Something has come of it, how
famous all over the world, and the
lid can no longer be kept on the
discovery. Relics have been found
which prove beyond the preadventure
of a doubt that this mound is the
burying ground of an ancient race. 1t
is full of interesting relics, some en-
tirely new to the students of ancient
research, and the half. nay the hun
dredth part hath not been told. The
searchers have just entered into most
interesting field of relics, and for weeks
new things will be found. Thousands
will make pilgrimage to the spot, and
biologists and scientists will have a
new morsel of antique sensation to
keep them busy for a long while.
For years this mound was a place
visited frequently by Curator Aldrich,
who at last secured an appropriation
of $3.50 from the state to excavate for
historical treasure. His death did not
put stop to the work, which is be-
ing carried on by his successor, but
the meager funds have run out, and
private donations will have to be de-
pended upon for time.
Valuable Relics Unearthed.
The mound is situated on the land
of r. E. Montgomery, a son-in-law of
General Grenville NJ. Dodge of Council
Bluffs. A. ]. Barley is agent for this
land, which is occupied as farm by
John Fruit. The work is in charge of
T. Van Hyning. assistant of Mr.. Har-
Ian, and in charge of the museum at
the historical building. He has with
him Mr. Larson, of Des Moines. a
conchologist, who has been engaged
in this kind of work before. and acts
as guard of the relics. Carl Fritz
Henning. of this city, is greatly inter-
ested in the work and is spending his
time helping out in the work.
The relics found are legion. The
general plan of the interior of the
mound seems to have comprised cir
Gle of about twelve fire places, in
which the ashes presumably of the
dead Mound Builders are found. A
foundation stone wall has been reached
but the work has not progressed far
enough to determine the nature of the
structure, whatever it is. Human
teeth, animal teeth, human bones. ami
NAL bones, all kinds of pottery vases,
or rather pieces of them, myriads of
shells, and innumerable relics indicate
burial ground has been found. 1t
will take weeks to unearth all of the
relics.
A wierd sensation is produced by a
visit to the mound. The mound rises
directly off the river bottom, about
thirty rods from the river, and is
plainly artificial. 1t is beautiful spot.
and the quiet restfulness of the sur
roundings, and the soothing green of
the nearby bluffs, cause the mind ire
sistably to turn back to those old
ages when a race of people whom we
would now perhaps call agrarian,
camped on these hills and enjoyed the
bounty of nature.
Scientific investigation.
Mr.. Van Hyning is going at the task
scientifically. Careful surveys were
first made with view Of cutting the
mound latitudinally in two directions.
Two or three trees surrounding the
mound were cut down. and dead
stumps were cleared away. Nineteen
men and one team were employed in
the excavation Their work has been
amply repaid with discovery The
mound appears to be rich in relics. A
chart has been made upon which ev-
cry discovery and it's exact spot is
traced. The ashes found have been
carefully preserved, and analysis will
determine whether or not they are
human. Box after box of bones, pieces
of pottery, etc., etc, are stored in the
LeIlL uiueI 6udi VI WolSuilieiiI 11oh
son. The men take their meals at the
Fruit domicile, but they have little
time to attend to the wants of the in
ner man. The work of discovery, now
that it is assured that it is not Wild
goose chase, is too all-absorbing to al
low of interest in anything else.
Interesting Part Yet to Come.
The nature of the structure of
stone which has been found is what
is puzzling the explorers most deeply
now. Much excavation must be done
before the general shape and purpose
of this wall, or building, or whatever
it is, is revealed. 1t shows assidious
and careful work. In fact the whole
mound must have been the work of
many men or women. working hard
for long period, as the theory is that
the soil was carried in baskets. Ger
tainly the builders of this mound had
no modern methods of laboring and
no modern machinery. which could
build such mound in a few days.
Everything gives evidence of being
done by hand. Just what caused
these beings to spend SO much time
and energy in the building of burial
mounds will never be known. The
structure of stone, which apparently
has a general circular outline. and
which will soon be exposed to public
,-;ou, will v,nccorc doan int