The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-11
PIONEER DAYS
BY MARY GORDON DuFFeE.

While we have no definite knowledge as to the cause of a member of the Iroquoian group being found in southern latitude so distant from the others as were the oherokees, the theory has been advanced that they sought a warmer climate than the long winters and snows where dwelt their companion tribes. The period of time between the age of the mound-build- CTS and the year 1535. when De Soto ex- plored much of our southern region. is in total eclipse so far as any historical record exists. To all who asked of the Indians in every portion of the United States, who built those ancient mounds and Qualifications, the universal reply was, I've do not know; they were here when we came" This must be true, for the Indian we know has no taste for such work. Like his predecessors, however, he always resided upon the flat lands of the prairies, valleys and creek and river bot toms; they roamed and hunted upon the mountains, but never built their villages thereon, except in such cases of the cliff dwellers. They generally used the mounds already built by a prehistoric race, as burial places for their dead, be- cause they were convenient and secure
 The following list represents the scheme of conventions adopted for the archeoligic cartography of the Indians of North Amer
 
 symbols, but it affords evidence that they had many different styles of residence and Of cemeteries. This cartography is pub lished by the bureau of ethnology, Smith, sonian institution. Washington, year 1891, IS therefore officially accurate, and is given here in detail for the benefit of those who have a fondness for antiqua- rian researches.
 Village site, and group of villages. Wood lodge, single and in groups. Earth lodge and village of earth lodges. Stone lodge, single and in groups of villages. Cliff lodge, single and in groups. CaVate lodge, subterranean and Igloo lodges, sin gle and in villages. Pueblo, an inhabited stone village, but more frequently made Of clay in a form called adobe. Assembly lodges of wood, earth and stone. Cllh' cave and subterranean assembly lodges. Tower mound and group of mounds As sembly, effigy, domiciliary and burial mounds, stone grave and stone cemetery O1suary. Inclosure single and inciosure with interior mound. and in some cases with exterior mound; excavations reser- voir; canal: copper mine: flint mine or quarry: mica and soapstone mines; cave deposit cave burial; refuse heap; shell heap; sculpture and group of sculptures' petroglyph, and group of petroglyphs; cache: cain: trail: undefined antiquities are always marked with cross.
 Mention is herewith made of some of the important prehistoric works of northern and middle Alabama: In Calhoun coun- ty, large isolated mound about three miles southeast of Oxford, on the Caver place. near Chocolocco creek. Noticed by Elston Luttrell fin Smithsonian report. year 1882 page S27; also reported by J. P. Rogan.
 In Cherokee county: Ancient parallel ditches at the falls of Little river, in the northeast corner of this county, near the DeKalb county line; also rock houses or cave dwellings in the vicinity. Described in Piclzetts history of Alabama, volume l. pages 175 and 176
 St, Clair county: An old Indian fortifi- cation on the southeast quarter. section 1S township r, range 1 east of the Hunts vile meridian. Reported by Hiram Ifaines, in Smithsonian report, year 1873, page 443.
 Marshall county: Burial cave, known as the Hampton cave" about one mile west of Guntersvile; partially explored; de- scribed in Smithsonian report There are numerous mounds, cave dwellings, burial places in this county. all of an interesting character, that have not been officially reported that I am aware Of.
 Jackson county: Mound on west bank of Tennessee river, one mile above Bridgeport and three small mounds on west bank, three miles below Bridgeport; two mounds on west bank of Tennessee river. just above Widows creek: another mound on the same side, due east from