ORNAMENTS OF METAL 



207 



92, in which were several circular depressions, in all respects resembling those 

 in the work-blocks of copper-smiths, in which plates of metal are hammered to 

 give them convexity. These depressions are of various dimensions, and are 

 evidently artificial. It seems more than probable it was in such moulds that these 

 articles were formed. This block weighs between thirty and forty pounds. 



Small tubes of copper, formed by wrapping together thin 

 slips of that metal, are often found. They are not soldered , 

 and though the edges overlap each other very closely, they 

 can easily be separated with the blade of a knife. They 

 were doubtless strung as beads. Another variety of beads, 

 made of coarse copper wire, closely wound and hammered 

 together, are occasionally found. 



Among the articles that exhibit the greatest degree of skill in 

 their manufacture, may be mentioned a sort of boss or biilion, 

 several of which are shown in the engraving. These present a 

 convex and a plane surface, and are identical in form with some 

 of the old-fashioned buttons which still linger on the small 

 clothes of our grandfathers. They are hollow ; a portion of them 

 are perforated from the sides, but most have the holes through 

 which passed the thread, by which they were strung or attached, 

 in the base. They bear a resemblance to some forms of the ancient fihtkt. 



In addition to these, many small tubes, bands, and articles of wrought copper 

 of various kinds have been found, the purposes of which are not apparent, and 

 which it would be tedious to describe. Greatly reduced sketches of several of 

 these are herewith presented. 



The metal was sometimes very ingeniously 



used in repairing broken articles of stone, etc., 



as will shortly be seen. One or two stone pipes 



have been discovered which seem to have been 



Fin. as. completely encased, so as to present an unbroken 



metallic surface. The overlapping edges, in these cases, were so polished down 



as scarcely to be discoverable. 



Silver, as has already been remarked, seems to have been possessed in very 

 small quantities by the mound-builders. Indeed, within the entire range of these 

 investigations, it has been discovered in but a single instance, — namely, in the 

 remarkable " pipe mound," numbered 8 in the plan of " Mound City." It was 

 here found, reduced to extreme thinness, (not exceeding in thickness ordinary 

 foolscap paper,) and plated, or rather wrapped, over sundry copper beads and a few 

 other ornaments of the same material. The whole amount discovered would 

 probably not exceed an ounce in weight. 



From the mound abo\e mcMitioned were taken a numiier of 

 large beads, the size and shape of which are accurately shown 

 in the accompanying engraving. They are composed of shell, 

 now completely calcined, and seem to have been carefully 

 (Miveloped with sheet copper and aftcrwnrds with thin slips of 



