146 ANCIENT MONUMENTS. 



European origin, are found with the recent burials. The necessity, therefore, of a 

 careful and rigid discrimination, between these deposits and those of the mound- 

 builders, will be apparent. From the lack of such discrimination, much misappre- 

 hension and confusion have resulted. Silver crosses, gun-barrels, and French 

 dial-plates, have been found with skeletons in the mounds ; yet it is not to be 

 concluded that the mound-builders were Catholics, or used fire-arms, or understood 

 French. Such a conclusion would, nevertheless, be quite as well warranted, as 

 some which have been deduced from the absolute identity of certain relics taken 

 from the mounds, with articles known to be common among the existing tribes of 

 Indians. The fact of remains occurring in the mounds, is in itself hardly presump- 

 tive evidence that they pertained to the builders. The conditions attending them 

 can alone determine their true character. As a general rule, to which there are 

 few exceptions, the only authentic and undoubted remains of the mound-builders 

 are found directly beneath the apex of the mound, on a level with the original 

 surface of the earth ; and it may be safely assumed, that whatever deposits occur 

 near the surface of the mounds, are of a date subsequent to their erection. 



The French maintained an intercourse, from a very early period, with the Indian 

 tribes of the West. In the way of barter or as presents they distributed amongst 

 them vast quantities of ornaments and implements of various kinds ; which, in 

 accordance with the Indian custom, were buried with the possessor at his death. 

 Nothing is therefore more common, in invading the humble sepulchre of tlie Indian, 

 than to find by the side of his skeleton the copper kettle, the gun, hatchet, and 

 simple ornaments, so valued in his life-time. The latter consist chiefly of small 

 silver crosses and brooches ; several of which are sometimes found accompanying 

 a single skeleton.* 



In the class of mounds now under consideration we have data that will admit of 

 no doubt, whereby to judge of the origin, as well as of the relative periods, of the 

 various deposits found in them. If the stratification already mentioned as charac- 

 terizing them is unbroken and undisturbed, if the strata are regular and entire, it 



* In the construction of the Ohio canal, a mound was partially excavated, in which were found a dial- 

 plate and other articles of European origin. The circumstances are detailed in a private letter from 

 William H. Price, Esq., of Chillicothe, late member of the Board of Public Works of Ohio, under 

 whose direction the mound was removed : 



" In the year 1827, during the excavation of a part of the Ohio canal in the township of Benton, 

 Cuyahoga county, a short distance north of the mouth of Brandywine creek, it became necessary to 

 remove part of a small mound, so situated in the valley of a small rivulet as. at first, to induce doubts as 

 to its being artificial. However, in the process of excavation, tlie remains of one or more human skeletons 

 were found, also a gun barrel, and perhaps some of the mountings of the stock. In relation to the last 

 I am not po.sitive, but distinctly remember a circular brass plate or disc perhaps one sixteenth of an inch 

 in thickness, with (I think) ramil letters and figures on one .side, which exhibited a French calendar, so 

 arranged as to serve for a century. I may mistake the duration for which it was intended, but give the 

 above as my decided impression. I do not recollect the date, but think it was near the middle of the 

 seventeenth century, — say 1640 or thereabouts.'" 



Several silver crosses, a number of small bags of vermiliim, and other relics, were discovered not long 

 since by Mr, C. A. Vaughn, of Cincinnati, in some mounds excavated by that gentleman in the vicinity of 

 Beardstown. 111. They were found with skeletons, a few feel below the surface. 



