Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-12-18
NATURAL MOUNDS
WORK EARLY hen
DISCOVERIES UPSET AL sclCN.
TlFlc THEORIES
Race lived Cy Farming Ccfo-c the
lndJars-Wcrc Expert m Mlk
i0g Tools, etc.

49, ~f
The first explanation Of the natu
ral mounds o., oklahoma has been
made tUiovin- d recent alohaeo,osi
cal exploration made by the UnNer
/ sity OF Oklahoma. These mounds
have been q sou. Sc Of almost endless
dispute TO scientists.
They are 10 be found in practically
all OF Arkansas and many OF the al
Joining states. but those in Oklahoma
axe so peculiarly formed that they
have come in for the greatest OF at
tgau0n. The casual observer would
not be SO much impressed with them
because they are SO numerous. AZ
many as five or six may be found in
an acre In some places, although they
ordinarily occur at the rate OF about
three 70 an acre which would make
about 1000 70 a square mile. They
are often found in colonies, and these
have received local names.
The recent Investigation has been
made by two members Of the faculty
Of the University Of Oklahoma JOS.
eph b. Thoburn, OF the department
OF history and Dr. Irvine Perrne OF
tie department Of geology who have
spent two years at this work. Arch
aeolosists have heretofore been very
vague and indefinite in their state
ments concerning the probable origin
Of the mounds altho they have been
greatly interested in them because
of the evidence OF prehistoric human
activity. About the only conclusion
reached before has been that they
may have been elevated building sites
constructed to furnish a dry, well
drained spot for wigwam or lodge.
But all former theories have been
upset by these latest explorers who
have proved that each of the count.
less thousands of tumuli is really he
ruin of a timber framed, dome shap
ed turf covered human habitation,
built and occupied by a race which
long snce passed away without leay'
ing even so much as tradition.
DR.. Perrine and Mr.. Thoburn are
sure these people were entirely dis.
tant from the cave jewellers and
mound builders, although they at diff
ferent times occupied the same re.
gion. In excayating some of the
mounds many curios were found
which are most interesting and give
evidence of the artistic ideals and
abilities OF this prehistoric race.
There are beautifully decorated pieces
of pottery as well as curious nipple.
ments for daily use, Crude spades,
hoes and other implements OF tillage,
which were fashioned from such ma
terials as flint, ebert and slate, were
found, showing that certain areas OF
valley land and prairies were in cul'
tiyation hundreds OF years ago. These
people undoubtedly changed little
settling in fixed villages and living
largely by agriculture.
1t is now believed that at least six
hundred years have elapsed since
the disappearance Of the tribe from
this region, because approximately 600
years ago this same territory was &C.
cupied by the Osages and Quapaws.
Since 1t Is very evident that the earth
house people outnumbered the Osages
and Quapaws, it IS inferred that
plague or epidemic disease had swept
away the greater part Of the inhabi.
tants Of the region before the appear.
ance Of these tribes west Of the Mis-
sissippl
The two explorers believe that the
population of the earthhouse people
was far more dense than any OF the
aboriginal tribes which were living in
the United States at the time Of the
discovery OF the continent, not only
because Of the great number Of
mounds, but by the number and eG.
tent Of their cemeteries as well Most
CT these burial grounds are one the riy.
ers and creeks. The people were
plainly very energetic. and were sure.
" masters Of the art of working
stone into implements and weapons
By the various processes of chipping,
pecking, drilling, and polishing 1t IS
also very likely that they were sfili'
cd in making baskets and in spinning
and weaving. but there IL little hopes
that such relies az these will be found.
In the manufacture Of pottery they
cXcelled all other aboriginal tribes Of
the United States.