The Washington herald., 1913-08-01
RELICS FOUNDOF
MOUND BUILDERS.
TRACES OF GREAT FORT
Stone Axss, Arrow Heads, and 0thss
Articles Have Bssa Dag Up
BY Explorer.

-
Des Moines, Iowa, July s1.-Ths high
bluffs Of the Mississippi and Iowa rivers
seem to have been the favorite dwelling
places Of the mound builders. for here
they could view the surrounding coun-
try for miles in any direction; enemies
could be seen approaching in time to
sound warning. and signal hres could
be observed at . great distance. The
rich. fertile valleys below may have
been their fields and gardens, for from
implements and utensils discovered they
were tillers Of the soil rather than seek
ers after war and bloodshed
Louisa County contains many examples
Of the ancient mound builderf handt-
craft. The village of Toolesboro. IN this
county. seems to have been Q place OF
unusual Importance among them. for
here are found the most extensive ex-
amples Of their work. Perhaps It was
their seat Of government They surely
had a form Of government with ruling
power to unite and direct large bodies
Of men necessary to construct the large
mounds and earthworks that they have
left behind them.
Grouped about Toolesboro are great
mounds and walls, and the faint traces
Of what was once . great fort. which
has now been almost obliterated by the
plow. harrow. and spade Of civilization,
yet the large mound that borders the
village IL the largest and most extensive
known to exist in iowa Its contents
have never been disturbed. and the credit
for its preservation il due to the people
Of Toolesboro.
Mounds Are Opened.
Many Of the mounds have been opened
by scientific explorers. several OF them
from the Davenport Academy Of Science.
which society owns the finest collection
of mound builders antiquities in the
United States, and for such II known
throughout this country and Europa
These explorers were very careful to
restore the mounds to their former con-
dition after removing the relics found
therein. From some Of the mounds were
secured the usual stone axes. Mint spear
and arrow heads and q number Of axes
and implements made OF native copper
nearly a dozen Of the former being found.
ranging from five to eight inches In
length. having q cutting edge OF from
two to four inches. and from one-half
to one and a half inches thick.
They were made Of native copper
beaten and ground into shape. and when
taken from the mounds were covered
with a heavy coating Of green oxide of
copper. Some were wrapped in coarse
cloth with an outer wrapping OF bark,
the former having become fossilized by
the action Of the copper salts, but plainly
showing the texture. which resembled
very heavy buck or linen toweling. The
threads Of both warp and wool were Of
the same size and thickness. and were
tightly twisted.
Two specimens Of ancient art now
owned by the Davenport Academy OF
Science and found in these mounds. are
the famous elephant pipes" made Of
dark brown stone and highly polished.
carved in the form Of an elephant, each
about four inches long and one inch
thick The back OF the elephant forms
the bowl Of the pipe. the feet. tail. and
proboscis being well formed, but the
tusks are absent.
Evldeaces Of Furnaces.
Several other pipes were found. repre-
senting beasts. birds. and man. Articles
of daily use have been found in large
quantities, including knives. scrappers,
and hoes, besides fragments Of pottery,
pitcher handles, urns, &c, some of which
bore the visible marks Of being glazed
and contained markings Of different de-
much skill in workman
ship. Several mounds opened long ago
bore evidence of well-formed furnaces.
THE embankment Is of earth, and In
many portions can be distinctly traced,
inclosing a area of five or six acres.
the angles or bastions exhibiting the
form of an octagonal crescent, says
Newhall. writing of the fort in his
sketches Of Iowa" TT evidently ap-
pears to have been constructed for the
purpose of defense. the points of the
angles and Intervening tanks showing
a knowledge OF engineer
ing and military science.
Opposite the mounds and upon the
western side Of the fort q dintinct lane
or coyertway was visible. formed by
two parallel embankments, and leading
some eighty or ninety feet to spring
of fresh water. although at present
this embankment is scarcely visible,
the pillow having obliterated nearly
every trace Of Its outlines.
within the fort I discovered de-
tached fragments Of pottery, pieces OF
pitcher handles, and urns, unlike any.
thing of the present day. also several
flint spears OF javelins.
No Indian Traditions.
'Many of the most aged Indians OF
the Sac and Fox tribes nave oeen IN
upon the subject and his
tory Of the fort. but they have no ira
ditions more than a sort Of innate rev.
erence for the neighborhood Of mounds'
them in the light OF conse-
Grated places"
Another extensive work OF these an
cient builders Is situated In Grand
View township, on the BLUM over look.
ing the Mississippi 1t is an area OF
two acres, inclosed by two parallel
walls of earth, 1--WE to six feet high
and a ditch nearly as deep. with CIR.
cular excavation at the west ana ABOUT
100 feet In diameter and twenty Feet
deep. At the foot Of the blum ana be-
low this pit are two natural Moving
springs. one Of sulphur water. the
other pure
Numerous smaller mounds are to be
found. yet with all these evidences OF
4 race advanced far above savagery
they have left US very little history
of themselves, except a. can De gain.
cred from the relics and mounds. II
they had q language We have no trace
Of it, by signs or otherwise. ana. AZ
best, most of our knowledge OF their