340 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



Investigations by the geologist and the antiquary have proved, 

 beyond a doubt, tiiat these mounds were formed by human hands. 

 Evidence atibrded by the earth-works has also connected their 

 builders with the ancient copper miners of Lake Superior, whose 

 operations represent, probabl}', the most extensive prehistoric 

 mines in the world. Dr. Foster points out that the number and 

 magnitude of these earth-works not only indicate a vast popula- 

 tion, but also a people subsisting l)y agricultural pursuits; as no 

 mere nomadic race, subsisting by the chase, could have devoted 

 the time necessary for the formation of such extensive national 

 works. The eartli-work at Cahokia, Illinois, is 79 feet high, and 

 has a base of CG6 feet; while the famous mound at Grave Creek, 

 Virginia, is 70 feet high, with a base of 333 feet; and the next in 

 rank is that of Miamisburgh, Ohio, which is 68 feet high, with a 

 base of 284 feet. Near Newark, Ohio, the circles, squares, par- 

 allel roads, and tumuli extend over many leagues of ground, 

 and outrival in cubical contents the great pyramid of Cheops. 



Their weapons were spear and arrow-heads, chipped with 

 much skill out of hornstone or schists ; hammers, generally 

 of porphyry, grooved near the head for the attachment of a 

 withe ; liesliing instruments of the same material, brought down 

 to a blunt edge ; pestles lor cracking and grinding corn ; plates 

 of steatite, or chloride slate, pierced with holes to gauge the size 

 of the thread in spinning ; circular discs, like weights, and con- 

 cave on both sides, ordinarily of porphyry and grooved ; orna- 

 ments like plum-bobs, double-coned, or egg-shaped, and pierced 

 or grooved at one end for the attachment of a string made of 

 specular iron, like that of Lake Superior; lastly, elaborately 

 wrought pipes, showing that they indulged in the luxury of 

 tobacco. Tliey mined extensively the native copper on the shores 

 of Lake Superior, and wrought it into knives, spear-heads, chisels, 

 bracelets, and other personal ornaments. They were unacquainted 

 with tin, and had no alloy ; and there is reason to believe they 

 did not even smelt the copper, but hammered it cold. They luld 

 also made considerable advance in tiie ceramic art. Dr. Foster 

 concludes that the Mound-Builders were an industrious, peaceful, 

 and numerous race, pursuing agriculture as a means of support, 

 maize being tlieir staple article of food ; ruled over by a despotic 

 government, under whose direction their great public movements 

 were carried out; and, lastly, that their extermination has resulted 

 from the invasion of a less civilized but more vigorous and 

 warlike people. 



THE PERFORATED IMPLEMENTS OP THE STONE PERIOD. 



Sir John Lubbock and the other arehrcologists are inclined to 

 hold that the perforated axes and luiniini;rs of .stone are coeval 

 with the commencement of the bronze period. Tliat many of 

 them really do belong to this period tliere can be little doubt, 

 since bronzes and stone are frecjuently found buried together, and 

 it is well known that stone weapons continued to be made and 



