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ARCHEOLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES. 



An opportunity of indulging in comparisons, and drawing inferences from analo- 

 gies, to which the author and his colleague, Dr. Davis, felt it imprudent to yield 

 while recording their observations, was thus afforded to Mr. Squier ; and many 

 interesting collateral facts, as well as many instructive coincidences, are added to 

 their more strictly limited narrations. 



The region between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi, now constituting the 

 State of Wisconsin, had hitherto been comparatively unexplored for archaeological 

 purposes ; although known to present some peculiar features, and to possess remains 

 of a singular and distinctive character. 



Works intended for defence, and such as are apparently designed for religious 

 or sacrificial ceremonials, are there seldom found ; but structures of no great eleva- 

 tion, though often on a scale of considerable horizontal extent, representing a 

 variety of fanciful forms, are frequent along the courses of the streams, and by the 

 borders of the lakes. 



The figures are described as chiefly those of Lizards, Turtles, Birds, Bears, Foxes, 

 and Men ; combined with straight lines, angles, crosses, curves, and other simple 

 embankments. Whatever these may have been intended to portray, there is a 

 uniformity in their configuration which manifests that the outlines are not acci- 

 dental, but possessed to their makers a distinct and definite meaning. 



They appear to be confined within a limited territory, between the Mississippi 

 and Lake Michigan; not extending far below the southern line of Wisconsin, nor 

 much beyond the northern extremity of Lake Winnebago ; and diminish in num- 

 bers and variety as the two last named boundaries are approached. 



That they exist there, and there only, is a fact hardly less remarkable than the 

 anomalous nature of the works themselves ; and attention is naturally directed to 

 the physical peculiarities of the district where they are found. 



Wisconsin is marked by no great or sudden variations of surface. The hills are 

 seldom more than gentle swells or undulations of land ; the highest ridges being 

 those that separate the rivers which run to Lake Superior from those that flow 

 into the Mississippi. At certain points the waters of opposite streams sometimes 

 mingle at high floods, and the portages are always short and easy. In general 

 the flow of the rivers is even and sluggish, expanding, especially on the eastern 

 side of the State, into a profusion of shallow basins, or forming lakes of larger 

 dimensions. Yet, springing from cold and limpid fountains, these are free from 

 miasma and exuberant with wholesome animal life. The fishes are of the finest 

 flavor; and the wild rice that chokes the shallower, and lines the borders of the 

 deeper waters, affords sustenance to myriads of aquatic birds and beasts, that fatten 

 upon the abundance of nutritious aliment. Even the most wet and marshy dis- 

 tricts are said not to be productive of fogs or humid exhalations. The air is clear, 



Mound-Builders. The Mounds not general burial-places ; Great Indian cemeteries. Aboriginal sacred 

 enclosures; Temples of the North American Indians; of the Mexicans, Central Americans, and Peru- 

 vians ; of the Polynesian Islanders, Hindus, etc. ; Primitive temples of the British Islands; Symbolism 

 of temples. Stone-heaps ; Stones of Memorial, etc. Additional monuments in New York. Use of 

 copper by the American Aborigines. Use of silver- 



