The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1935-03-07
Minnesota Mound Builders and
the Indian

II
In Minnesota the largest works
of the Mound builders have beer
unearthed near Pequot, north Of
Brainerd and from these mounds
there have been taken many re
mains of Mound builders skeletons
together with excellent designs Of
pottery vessels and large amount.
of arrow heads and stone axes
Most of these axes have a distinct
mongoloid makeup and CORES
pond almost identically with
similar artifacts of this nature
which have been found among the
present natives of the Upper Mon.
| golian country in Asia.
An anthropological examina.
ton of the skeletons which have
been unearthed, shows their sim.
iliarity with not only skeletons Of
mongoloid origin, but also with
those of present day American
Indians which have been found al
various points. In this connec.
ton, the writer wishes to state
that it has been definitely estab-
lished, that the present day
American Indian is of MongoloiG
origin and is now believed to be
the direct lineal descendent Of the
Mound builders. Every feature OF
the Indian is mongoloid. Atten-
ton in this respect is invited to
the high cheek bones, the coarse
black hair, inverted eyes and the
ability of the Indian not to talk
too much. He like the oriental
world is known the world over
for his quiet attitude and reluct-
ance to engage in conversation
! Mongoloid features stand out most
prominently in the case of the
Sioux, Apaches and the Zuni
races. This latter race now in
habits the state of New Mexico
This particular race is distinctly
mongoloid and in some cases
their braves are mistaken fol
Chinese by persons who are moi
acquainted with the Indian.
Along the Minnesota river in
the vicinity Of Redwood Falls
several traces of earth fortified.
ton mounds appear to the trained
archaeological eye. Owing to the
hilly terrain and other peculiar to-
geographical features Of Redwood
county, it is difficult for the lay
man to pick out these artificial
earth formations. What might ap-
pear to the average person as a
small hill or mushroom type raise,
might reveal to the trained arch
aeologist, the secret of long lost
race of people.
The mound builders are known
to have erected several classes of
earth mounds, among these being
the ceremonial, the burial, the eff
figy and the fertilization mounds
The latter type mound was used
both for defenses and as a f1ooG
control measure during spring
floods. This type of mound is
usually found along a river and in
the vicinity of Cambria, Mime.
sofa, in Blue Earth county, west
of Mankato, we find several por.
tons of an old fertilization mound
system. Agricultural operation:
on the part of the present day
farmer in this vicinity, has Of
course obliterated much of thi:
artificial earth tumuli, yet suf
ficient of it remains to show
that the mound builders once in
habited this section.
1t has been definitely determin
ed that the Mound builders were
great traders and their skiffs ar,
believed to have gone as far soutl
as the rivers in Texas and from
these points loads of merchandise,
were landed and carried on foo
clear down into the Yucatan Pen
insula of Mexico. The finding O
artifacts which are distinctly o
Magyar and Aztec design bears GU
this theory Last year near Mis-
souri, Valley, Iowa, DR.. Richar,
Glider of Omaha, Nebraska, Will
searching for mound builders re
lies unearthed a stone smokin.
pipe, which upon close examina
ton was found to bear the desigl
of Quetzalcoatl, the Plumed Ser
pent, who according to ancien
Mexican mythology, was the Go
of War of the Aztecs. The finding
of this pipe so far from it's nativ
lands gives archaeologists niue
food for thought. 1t shows tina
either the Aztecs were once here
or the Mound builders brough
the pipe back with them afte
some expedition to the south. A
any rate the similarity is there
so there must be a connection.
Central Minnesota, with espe
cial reference to Redwood, Blu
Earth, Lyon and Renville coun
ties, offers much for archaeologic
al research. Expeditions from tn
University of Minnesota under tn
direction Of DR.. jerks, eminen
archaeologist have combed thi
} section over a period of years wit
. excellent results and in the UNI
versity at Minneapolis, many art
facts which have been found