Mound-Builders

Mound-Builders

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Title: Mound-Builders
Author: William J. Smyth
Release Date: March 12, 2006 [EBook #17969]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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MOUND-BUILDERS
BY

REV. W. J. SMYTH, M.A., B.Sc., Ph.D.
Pastor of St. Joseph Street Presbyterian Church, Montreal.
PUBLISHED BY REQUEST OF NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY,
TORONTO.
MONTREAL: GAZETTE PRINTING COMPANY. APRIL, 1886.

MOUND-BUILDERS
BY REV. WILLIAM J. SMYTH, M.A., B.Sc., Ph.D.
When the early settlers began to pioneer the unbroken forests of North
America, they considered the various Indian tribes to be the true
Aborigines of this continent. But long before the red man, even long
before the growth of the present forests, there lived an ancient race,
whose origin and fate are surrounded with impenetrable darkness. The
remains of their habitations, temples and tombs, are the only voices that
tell us of their existence. Over broad areas, in the most fertile valleys,
and along the numerous tributaries of the great rivers of the central and
western portions of the United States, are to be found these wonderful
remains, of the existence and origin of which, even the oldest red man
could give no history.
Following in the track of these ancient tumuli, which have been raised
with some degree of order and sagacity, we are bound to believe that
they were constructed by a very intelligent and somewhat civilized race,
who during long periods enjoyed the blessings of peace, but like most
nations of the earth, at times were plunged in the horrors of war. We
cannot tell by what name these strange people were known during their
existence. But archæologists, to keep themselves safe, have given them
the name of "Mound-builders," from the nature of the structures left
behind them.
Of this wonderful, semi-civilized, prehistoric race, we have no written
testimony. Their mysterious enclosures, implements of war, and

comparatively impregnable fortifications, together with a few strange
tablets, are the only evidence of their character, civilization, and doom.
No contemporary race, if such there existed on this continent, has left
any record of them.
The mounds they have left are found in the western part of the State of
New York, and extend, it is said, as far as Nebraska. And as they have
lately been found in the Northwest, they have thus a much more
northern limit than was at first thought, while the southern limit is the
Gulf of Mexico.
Having seen only a few mounds in Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky, I
must confine my paper to those found in the State of Ohio, where,
during a residence of seventeen months, I made the closest
investigation my time and duties permitted. In Ohio, the number of
mounds, including enclosures of different kinds, is estimated at about
13,000, though it requires the greatest care to distinguish between the
mounds proper and those subsequently erected by the Indians. In some
parts they are very close together, which is strong evidence that these
regions were densely populated. In others, a solitary mound, with
adjacent burial mounds, gives us the idea of a rural village or town.
ENCLOSURES.--In the State of Ohio, alone, there have been found
1,500 enclosures. Some of these have walls ranging in height from
three to thirty feet, enclosing areas of from ten to 400 acres. Those
areas, enclosed by strong walls, erected in regions difficult of access,
were undoubtedly intended as military enclosures; while those areas
enclosed by slight walls, with no mounds to cover the openings, were
intended as sacred enclosures. I shall leave the consideration of the
sacred enclosures until I describe the temple, or sacrificial mounds,
giving a brief outline of some of the famous fortifications built by those
strange people.
Within convenient distance of the city of Xenia, on Little Miami River
in Warren county, Ohio, can be seen at any time that famous enclosure
known as "Fort Ancient." There can be no mistake as to the intention of
this wonderful enclosure. It is situated on the east bank of the Miami on
a most commanding position. On the east, two ravines originate,

running on either side towards the river, leaving the great fortress on an
elevation of 230 feet above the river. The whole is surrounded by a
wall of five miles in length, but