208 



ANCIENT MONUMENTS. 



silver, so as to completely cover the surface. Some of the beads exhibit both 

 the copper and silver partially melted oft". The heat of the fire, upon the altar 

 where they Mere found, had been sufficiently intense, towards the centre, to melt 

 considerable masses of copper. 



Besides these beads, several star-shaped ornaments were found. They are 

 also composed of shell, bound together by an envelope of sheet copper, over which 

 the silver slips are carefully folded, so as to leave their overlapping edges scarcely 

 perceptible. A small hole passed through the centre of these unique orna- 

 ments, by which they were fastened in such positions as the taste of the possessor 

 suggested. 



Silver crosses, it has several times been observed, have been discovered with 

 the recent deposits in the mounds. The accompanying engraving illustrates their 

 general form. Some are considerably larger and heavier than 

 that here represented ; one found near Chillicothe weighed 

 not less than one and a half ounces. They will readily be 

 recognised as of European origin. The enterprising French 

 passed frequently through the Mississippi valley, from a very 

 early day, and maintained a constant intercourse with the 

 natives, distributing amongst them vast numbers of these 

 crosses, brooches, and other ornaments of silver ; which, in 

 accordance with the aboriginal custom, were buried with the 

 possessor at his death. Numbers of these relics have been 

 found in the mounds and Indian graves of the South. They 

 are perhaps oftener composed of brass than of silver. 



The instance first mentioned, it is believed, is the only 

 one in which silver has been found in the mounds under such 

 circumstances as to establish conclusively that it pertained to the builders. It is 

 clear that, so far as the specimens here obtained are concerned, they did not 

 understand the art o'i plating, in the proper meaning of the term. They had taken 

 but the first step towards it. That art is certainly one which follows, instead 

 of preceding, the knowledge of welding and of working metals through the 

 assistance of fire, which knowledge does not seem to have been possessed by them. 

 Their acquaintance with metallurgy appears to have been confined to working the 

 native metals in a cold state ; in which, it must be admitted, they evinced consider- 

 able skill. Further than this, little can be claimed for them. 



From the presence oi galena in the mounds, it seems almost impossible that the 

 builders could have been ignorant of the manufacture of lead. None of that metal has, 

 however, been discovered under such circumstances as to place it beyond doubt that 

 they were acquainted with it. A rude article, of pure lead, of the following form, 

 and weighing about half a pound, was discovered, not long since, in sinking a well 

 within the trench of the ancient works at Circleville. It was found about two feet 



Fio. 9T. 



