14 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



been of perishable materials, and that the little circular depressions 

 from fifteen to fifty feet in diameter surrounded by earthen rings 

 are the sites of ancient dwellings. From the fact that the hearth 

 is found in the center he inferred that they were much like the 

 conical wigwams of the modern Indians. Remains of this kind 

 are common in middle and west Tennessee and in southeastern 

 Missouri. 



Farther south, during the explorations carried on under the 

 Bureau of Ethnology, there have been found in many of the mounds 

 layers of burnt clay broken up into fragments. From numerous 

 facts ascertained in regard to these remains, which cannot be given 

 in this abstract, and the descriptions given by early explorers of 

 the houses of the Indians of this section, he argued that these were 

 the remains of the houses of the mound-builders. 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Jas. H. Blodgett said : I hope Prof. Thomas will heed the 

 suggestion of Mr. Carr, whose recent work was referred to, and not 

 suppress part of his own work because Mr.Ca'rr has anticipated him 

 in his statements. The public has become so thoroughly trained 

 into the idea of a mysterious lost race of mound-builders that it 

 will be necessary for every one who knows of facts indicating the 

 contrary to state them on all proper occasions. Lately seeing a 

 reference to the mysterious lost mound-builders in the manuscript 

 of a prominent writer, I suggested to him that it might expose 

 him to criticism, and referred him to one or two eminent names that 

 endorsed the view that our red Indians were competent to do like 

 work. My suggestion was the first information received in this 

 author's office that any such view was seriously held and I was re- 

 ferred to an article in a standard Cyclopecedia some yearsold to in- 

 form myself as to the true view. I trust Dr. Thomas will add his 

 testimony in its due place. 



Prof. Mason said he had always wished to see this subject dis- 

 cussed by gentlemen who had had as much experience in the matter 

 as Major Powell and Prof. Thomas. It seems that doubts are 

 thickening more rapidly than the proofs are forthcoming. In his 

 own mind he had no doubts upon the subject, but took this antago- 

 nistic stand for the purpose of drawing out such facts to enlighten 

 others who were adherents of the belief that the mound-builders 



