3 JSZi 



Conclusions 175 



of the earthwork ; and it is quite likely that the walls of certain of the 

 squares, octagons, and circles were faced with small masses of dried clay. 



Undoubtedly there were surface indications to be observed in 

 Atwater's time which have long since disappeared. He speaks of 

 strange things which were observed on the surface of the enclosures 

 about the year 1800, when they were first brought under cultivation. 

 Whether he means fire-places, or primitive shrines, or accumulations of 

 stone, we do not know. It is unfortunate that he was not more specific. 



The length of occupation of the Hopewell site is unknown. It has 

 always been my impression that the culture developed there during a 

 number of generations. I do not believe that there was a large popula- 

 tion, but rather a village of closely related clans, fratries or families, 

 which occupied the site for a considerable time. The length of occupa- 

 tion of the Hopewell site naturally cannot be determined. It might 

 have been sometime between the years 1400 and 1500. I have always 

 been inclined to think that it was prior to 1550, but am not disposed 

 to place the date before the year 1400. It was naturally abandoned 

 before the French and English explorations, otherwise such an important 

 site would have been visited by Europeans. Taking into account the 

 way Indians lived, there was probably room within the walls for 1500 

 to 2000 persons. 



The question has been asked whether it is possible to make a dis- 

 tinction between the dates of the burials in different mounds. This 

 cannot be done, except in the case of intrusive burials. The central 

 burials in each case were probably the oldest, others being added on the 

 base line, as the mound was extended. The exploration of Mound 25 

 indicates that it was sometime, before this structure reached its greatest 

 dimensions, probably two or three generations, and possibly three or 

 four. 



It is generally supposed that the Hopewell people were brachy- 

 cephalic. This cannot be determined positively until accurate 

 measurements are made. Dr. H. T. Cresson advanced a statement 

 to that effect, but his observations were based upon a hasty field exam- 

 ination. He pointed out to us, however, a few crania which, as any 

 observer could see, were longer than the prevailing short types. With 

 these long-headed burials there were no copper ornaments, pipes, or 

 other objects of value. From our field observations it seems probable 

 that these long-headed people were slaves or enemies, and were buried 

 without honor. Careful tabulation of the crania and a checking up of 

 the objects found with each might settle this point. 



Squier and Davis worked for years in southern Ohio, and it now 



