222 ANCIENT MONUMENTS. 



and also page 157). They are simple discs, (cut from plates of stone,) perfectly 

 circular, but of variable thickness. The largest measures three inches and three 

 fourths in diameter, by one inch and one tenth in thickness ; the smallest, 

 two and eight tenths, by nine tenths. They are of all intermediate sizes ; a few 

 have their edges slightly convex, but most are perfectly plane. Those first 

 found by individuals residing in the vicinity, were called " weights,^'' from their 

 resemblance to the iron weights in common use. They are made of a very 

 dense ferruginous stone, of a black or dark brown ground, thickly interspersed 

 with minute and brilliant specks of yellow mica ; it receives a remarkably high 

 polish, displaying the mica flakes with great beauty. The material was, not 

 inaptly, terined '■'■gold sto7ie" by the persons who first discovered it. Several deli- 

 cately carved articles of this material have been taken from the same locality ; 

 but it is a singular fact, that none have been found except in this particular mound. 

 Judging from the accounts of others, and the number of fragments of these discs 

 disclosed upon a full investigation of the mound, the deposit must have been 

 very considerable ; probably not less than thirty or forty were originally placed 

 there. 



It has been suggested that these stones were used in certain games, analogous 

 to those known to have been practised by the North American tribes. The perfect 

 polish of the edges of some of them weighs against this conclusion. They are 

 certainly enigmatical in their purposes. 



The numerous class of discoidal stones already refeired to, as being in some 

 degree related to those above described, are composed of a large variety of hard 

 materials, — granite, porphyry, greenstone, jasper, quartz, etc. 



They are of all sizes from two to six inches in diameter, and of variable thick- 

 ness, seldom, however, less than an inch and a half. Some have concave sides, 

 often perforated ; others are solid or lenticular in shape, with oblique margins. 

 Nos. 1, 2, 4, and 6, represent four varieties. 



The sketches and accompanying sections will give a good idea of their character. 

 Nos. 1 and 2 are the predominant forms, with sides more or less concave, and centre 

 perforated. Many of this kind are marked with radiating lines, resembling bird 

 tracks, as exhibited in No. 1. Occasionally both surfaces are thus marked. Some 

 of those possessing concave sides are imperforate. No. 4 constitutes the simplest 

 form, and approaches nearest to those found in the mounds ; a very few are 

 observed of the form represented by No. 6. 



By far the larger proportion of these relics are worked with great symmetry, and 

 are well polished ; some, however, of manifestly similar purpose, are quite rude in 

 workmanship and of coarse materials. None have been discovered in the mounds 

 examined by the authors ; and it is doubtful whether any have been found in them 

 elsewhere, except with the recent deposits. We may safely set them down as of 

 comparatively modern origin. It is known that, among the Indian tribes on the 

 Ohio, and along the Gulf, such stones were in common use, in certain favorite 

 games. Beyond the Mississippi their use is still retained. They display consider- 

 able skill, but undoubtedly fall within the capabilities of a very rude people. Their 

 shape is that most easily obtained by attrition or grinding with other stones. 



