GASS ON JACKSON COUNTY MOUNDS. 173 



of any kind, still it seems to me that they must have been collected and 

 placed there for a particular purpose by human hands. But for what 

 purpose the people selected them, by what intention they were guided, 

 with what kind of tools the inscriptions on such hard material were 

 made, by what nation the engraving was executed, Indian or Mound 

 Builder — these are questions which I do not venture to answer. 



I would only call your attention to the significant fact that two years 

 ago a copper implement was found among these stones, and furthermore, 

 that in the neighborhood of them are several mounds. 



Eespectfully submitted. J. Gass. 



Report on a Mound in Jackson County. 

 BY REV. J. GASS. 



To the Davenport Academy of Natural Sciences : 



A few days since I employed a person to open a mound in -Jackson 

 county, in which he found the following relics, viz : three copper imple- 

 ments a, few fragments of pottery, and a number of burned bones, which 

 I herewith present to the Academy for the archaeological department of 

 its museum. The elevation of this mound above the surrounding surface 

 Avas about four feet, and the diameter at the base about thirty feet. The 

 construction was veiy simple. A few feet below the surface were found 

 a number of stones and many pieces of wood, all scattei-ed in very 

 irregular positions. At the depth of about five feet he reached a quan- 

 tity of ashes, intermingled with which were the burned bones already men- 

 tioned. Here, also, were found fragments of pottery of a very dark color ; 

 two different shaped knives of malleated copper, and a copper spear-head 

 made in the same manner. 



Respectfully submitted. J. Gass. 



September 28, 1877. 



October -Ith, 18Y7. 



This afternoon the Corner Stone of the Building of the 

 Academy was laid. The ceremonies commenced at 4 o'clock, 

 and were conducted bj Grand Master Z. G. Luse of the Grrand 

 Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Iowa, assisted 

 by the Knight Templars and other Masonic bodies, according 

 to the following 



ORDER OF EXERCISES : 



Music by Strasser's Band. 



Prayer, by Rev. J. G. Merrill. 



Address by the President, Rev. S. S. Hunting. 



[Proc. D. A. N. S. A^ol. II.] 24 [April, 1878.] 



