Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-12-22
kOUNDSREVEAL
HIDDEN Lore
College Professor Makes
Survey Of Homes of
Extinct Races

APPLETON, Wis, Dee. 2O-To the art
of the Mound Builders, whose work is
rapidly pass ng into Oblivion in the
wake CT the man with pillow, Prof. john
b. MacHarg, head Of the department of
American history at Lawrence college
heie, has devoted a mythical volume of
almost forgotten lore.
After a personal trip Of exploration
made this summer to the prominent
scenes of these primitive builders, Prof.
MacHarg concluded that nearly all Of
these structures were the wo.k OF In
dams who lived during the last thous-
and years.. although just when the In
dian started his fashich of mound build
ing no one could definitely say.
From articles Of European origin
found in some of these mounds, how
ever it has been established that for a
time, at least, mounds were built after
the advent Of the white man, said Prof.
MacHarg, cart forms found in them
also connected the later day mound
builder with present day Indians"
In Mississippi Valley
Nearly all Of the Indian mounds lie
within the domain Of the valleys of
the Mississippi River system, with es-
p~ecially interesting examples in Ohio
and Wisconsin, he declared. He attempt
ed to classify them as follows:
Conical mounds, probably the most
numerous, and without question, the
highest. There are spectacular examples
Of this type still to be seen along the
Mississippi River, in Ohio and else
where, and they vie with the pyramids
of Egypt in monumental Importance,
their sepulchral chambers and old-time
treasures being tremendously impress
sive.
Platform Mounds, which are probably
best represented by the Truncated pyr.
amids of Mexico City, Similarity Of
structure observed in the works near
by, moved the settlers of a crossroads
town in Wisconsin to name it Aztalan,
and on old atlas shows an Aztec street,
even though the modern residence do
not seem to be familiar with it.
Enclosures, used for defense or cere-
mcnial purposes. The spectacular
are those near Newark, Ohio, ert"nding
over hundreds Of acres. and as thrilling
as the avenues of s%phinXe5 at Karnak
ard Luxor. R~amparts, thousands of feet
in extent, ten to thirty in height, out
lii ing avenues, circles, and other geo
metrical figures were constructed and
still are memorials of a considerable
civilization.
Animal Pictures
Eff.gy Mounds. or great animal pie
lures ranging in height from a few in
ches to a few feet. These are most nu-
mcrous in Wisconsin, but the most
st king il in Adams county, Ohio,
where one extends for a thousand feet
in tire shape of a serpent. The snake
mounds near Appleton. Wis, the Ele-
miami Mound Of Gran County, Wis, the
Man Mound and the Lynx Mounds near
Baraboo, Wis. are eamples of effigy
mounds known best to the initiative.
THE reasons underlying the building
Of Indian mounds were many" accord
ing to Prof. MacHarg." Conical pounds
and some others were used as places
of burial, also as affairs, and perhaps in
some cases for observation and signal
ing. The great works at Newark, Ohio,
AID similar structures were, probably
used for signaling purposes, as well, as
for defense.
"Effigies probably were the expires
sions Of religious superstitions, the an
imal represented being a totem of tribe