272 TEMPLE MOUNDS. 



varying much both in shape and size. In previous editions 

 of this work, I ventured to suggest that these mounds were 

 sepulchral, rather than sacrificial, and subsequent investiga- 

 tions have confirmed this. For instance, Mr. Putnam, from 

 a more recent exploration in one of the very mounds explored 

 by Messrs. Squier and Davis, has satisfied himself that these 

 so-called altars are really "burnt burial-chambers."* 



Another class of mounds, called by Messrs. Squier and 

 Davis " Temple Mounds," are pyramidal structures, truncated, 

 and generally having graded avenues to their tops. In some 

 instances they are terraced, or have successive stages. But 

 whatever their form, whether round, oval, octangular, square, 

 or oblong, they have invariably flat or level tops, of greater 

 or lesser area." These mounds much resemble the Teocallis 

 of Mexico, and had probably a similar origin. They are rare 

 in the North, though examples occur even as far as Lake 

 Superior, but become more and more numerous as we pass 

 down the Mississippi, and especially on approaching the Gulf, 

 where they constitute the most numerous and important por- 

 tion of the ancient remains. Some of the largest, however, 

 are situated in the North. One of the most remarkable is at 

 Cahokia, in Illinois. This gigantic mound is stated to be 

 seven hundred feet long, five hundred feet wide at the base, 

 and ninety feet in height. Its solid contents have been roughly 

 estimated at twenty millions of cubic feet. 



Probably, however, these mounds were not used as temples 

 only, but also as sites for dwellings, especially for those of the 

 chiefs. We are told that among the Natchez Indians " the 

 temples and the dwellings of the chiefs were raised upon 

 mounds, and for every new chief a new mound and dwelling- 

 were constructed." Again, Garcilasso de la Vega, in his History 

 of Florida, quoted by Mr. Haven.f says, " The town and house 



* Rep. of the Trustees of the Peabody Museum, p. 407. 

 t 1. c. p. 57. 



