1CA 



AMERICA 



nor 



mar a walnut, BUT a hickory, have been obearvtd ; and even the asters 

 UMOMalvee. which an UM Tary weed* of UM eaetern aide, in oompara- 



ran aad of peculiar apMiea. The pruoe-flra of the eastern aide 

 I Men to exit OB the wxtem. bat their place is occupied by the 

 Jaa D^gUt*, which tofouad on the mountain at various elevationa, 

 6.UIii t at>aetU>amer.baeh. 



Jsfi|slti It UM commencement of the pneent century the 

 etstlsna* of antiquities in America was hardly known in Europe, if 

 m ,xopt thoes in the vicinity of the town of Mexico, and at a few 

 peaces ia UM And** of South America. But since that time we have 

 .iiniiii aoqnainted with such a number of ancient monuments, that 

 they bid mir to exceed those of UM other part, of the globe, Asia 



bid 



The) countries formerly subject to Spain have now been 

 opal to -i-f-tf*** investigation, and many parta of North 

 when antiquities exist an now settled upon. In many 

 monuments of the ancient population are overgrown 

 aa, which concealed their eriatenre until the country 

 wa* fully explored. 



The North American antiquhiea an of two daecriptioo* : they an 

 -f fortification* or mound*. The fortifications an not found to 

 UM east of the Allegheny Mountain* ; but on the wart of them they 

 occur in many place*. The moat eastern an in New York, on the 

 bank* of Black River, which falls into Lake OnUriw at it* eastern 

 extremity; but hen. as well aa in Geneasee county, aud other 

 parta of Hew York, they an email and difficult to trace. Farther 

 weat two extensive systems of fortifications may be traced. Oue 

 extend* over UM mitfmti portion of the state of Ohio, and ia inclosed 

 on the cast by the course of the river Muakingum, and on the weat by 

 the Miami The moat northern fortifications extend into the county 

 of Licking, to the vicinity of the place when the river Muakingum 

 originates. Near Newark in Licking then an four forte, inclosing 

 from M to 40 acre* each, and rnrMsWlng of earthen wall* from 8 to 80 

 foot high. Two of the forte an perfect circle*, one ia a perfect aquare, 

 and the fourth ia an octagon. Theae forta an severally connected by 

 road* running between parallel walls, and communicate by similar 

 roads with some creeks. The works extend over an area of four 

 aquan mile*. Other leas extensive fortification* are in Perry county, 

 bat those near Marietta, near the confluence of the Ohio and 

 Muakingum, occupy a considerable space. These an the ancient 

 fortifiostioD* in the valley of the Muskiugum. In the valley of the 

 Bdoto a square fort with eight gateways i* united to a circular fort 

 surrounded by two wall* and a deep ditch between them. The town 

 of Cireieville, in the county of Pickaway, is partly built in the circular 

 fort. Extensive works of a similar kind exist on Paint Creek in the 

 county of Boat, weat of Chillicothe, and a fortified hill near Ross is 

 nMlanil by Mr. Squier to have a decided resemblance to the 

 l**-"" of TUucala in Mexico ; other* are found at the confluence of 

 the river Scioto and the Ohio, near Portsmouth. There an aeveral 

 isolated fortification* to the east of the Little Miami River, and in the 

 country between this river and the Great Miami 



The other system of fortifications occur* on the bank* of the 

 Mississippi, but wa an not so well acquainted with the localities. 

 Then an aeveral forta in the vicinity of St Louis, on both sides of 

 UM river Miatouri, and they extend thence farther southward. On 

 the banks of White River in the state of Arkansas then is a wall 

 i an area of 640 acres, which is equal to a aquare mile, 

 in its oantre ia the foundation of a large circular building, 

 1 to have bean a temple. 



aquare forta, like the pyramids of Mexico, face the cardinal 

 When they have only one entrance it look* toward the east 

 nib an usually made of earth, but then an one or two 

 i in which they an of atone. To convey a more precise idea 

 of UMir cooatruction and disposition, we shall give an account of the 

 works near Marietta. They consist of several walls and mounds of 

 earth, ia direct lines, and In aquan and circular forms. The largest 

 aquan fort contains 40 acre*, encompassed by an earthen wall from 

 C to 10 feet high, awl from 20 to 80 feet U breadth at the base. On 

 Mb. aide an three openings, at equal distances. The middle entrance 

 of each aide ia the largest, particularly on the aide next to the 

 Muskingum. In front of this gateway U a covered way, formed by 

 two parallel walla of earth, standing 281 feet apart These walls at 

 the moat elevmtod point on the inside an 21 feet in height, and 42 feet 

 in width at the base, but on the outside they average only about 6 feet 

 hi height Thia covered way forms a paatage of about 20 rods in 

 stevth, leading by a gradual descent to the low ground*, when at the 

 tisa. of iu cooatruction it probably reached the river. The wall* 

 eynmanca 60 feet from the rampart* of the fort, and increase in 

 *WMS the way deaoanda to the river, and the bottom is rounded 



1 "M oentn ia the manner of a well-formed turnpike-road. In the 

 f UM fart an three quadrangular mound*. On* at the north 



' *7J k *f^' 1r * i U * lunB "*t nd even now nearly perpendicular 

 !* .* &T- A " U-r qrengla ia 160 feet by 120 feet, and 

 fee* Ugh. and aimiW to the other, except that instead of a 

 fMMtoef aeoeot on the aid. next the wall, then ia a hollow way 

 It feat wide, Uadia. ft) fa* towards the centra, and then rising with 



bfrJu. M fort toward, the o., 

 M to UM top. The third auadrans 



lop* to the top. 



The third quadnigular uwund ia IbtTfeet 



by 64 feet, with aaoante at the end* 10 feet wide, but it ia not so 

 high a* the other*. 



At a abort distance to the south -east i* a smaller fort, containing 20 

 acne, with a gateway in th* oentn of each aide, and at each corner ; 

 these gateway* an defended by circular mouuds iu front of theui, 

 either within or without the uudoaun. Still farther to the south-east 

 U a mound in the form of a sugar-loaf. It* base is a regulai 

 160 feet in diameter and 21 rod* iu :ice. It* altitude ia 80 



feet It U surrounded by a ditch 4 feet deep, 15 feet wide, and 

 defended by a parapet 4 feet high, through which i* a gateway 

 toward* the fort 20 feet in width. 



Theae fortification* an peculiar to the plains drained by tin 

 and Miaaiaaippi ; in no other part of the globe are similar 

 found. Mound* or tumuli however occur in uiauy tlivr . ..uutrics 

 of Europe and Asia. In the countries borduriiur on Laku Erie they 

 an of inferior size and fewer in number than in those which lie nearer 

 the bank* of the Ohio. Tliey vary greatly in their dimenaioua and in 

 their character. Some an only 4 or 6 feet high and 1 U or 12 feet in 

 diameter, whilst other* riae to the height of SO, 90, and xouie more than 

 100 feet, and cover many acre*. Their base U round or oval, and tliuir 

 shape that of a cone, but they an sometime* flat at the top. Some 

 a rude design. In Adams county a great serpent U represented, with 

 a triple-coiled tail, a waving body, and open Jaws, which appear* to be 

 wallowing a large oval ; the leugth i* 600 feet ""'-I would be 1000 

 feet if extended. In Pickaway county i* a distinct Greek orosa, 3 feet 

 high, aud 90 feet from nj.l !.. . -ml of the arms. Another repreeut* 

 an alligator or broad-backed lizard, of which the length is 250 feet, 

 and the breadth of the body 40 feet Similar work* are found both 

 north and south of Ohio ; in Wisconsin then ia a aerie* of elevations, 

 which seeui to consist of six figures of bean, six moundx, and one 

 human figure ; the figure* vary from 90 to 120 feet in leugth, and are 

 from 8 to 4 feet high. Similar monument* are found in Louisiana, 

 and near Rock River in Illinois there is a quadrangular in. 

 a brick wall. The mounds are made either of stone or of earth. The 

 greater number appear to have been sepulchral monuments, in which 

 great Dumber* of bones have been found. Only in one more elevated 

 tumulus a skeleton or two have been fouiul. In mumum-nts of 

 the tumuli kind some utensils and trinket* are usually found, a* 

 hatcbeU made of stone, vases of earthenware, vase* and ornaments of 

 copper, n little iron sometimes, and sometimes a small piece of copper 

 plated, .1:1.1 vfi-y nirely a little gold. In gome opened by Mr. Squicr 

 sculptures of human heads were found, aud also masks. None how- 

 ever of theae relics evinced any urtistical talent or acquirement* 

 beyond what an possessed by existing Indian tribes. But there was 

 also found in oue mound a small ell 



characters arranged in parallel lines. It appears that they are not 

 letter*, but hieroglyphics. S,.m.. lot'ty tumuli :uv fouud in the 

 neighbourhood of St. Louis, aud among them ure two which h;. 

 or three stage* or terraces, which are considered as important iu a 

 historical point of view, as they seem to our. (uitics and 



consequently also the civilisation of the ancient tribes that inhabited 

 the United State* with those of Mexico ; for these tumuli approach in 

 shape to the teocallis of the Mexicans. 



We paal to the Mexican antiquities. On the river Ciila, which falls 

 into the Rio Colorado, aome large ruins are said to exist under the 

 name of Casas Grande*. Uumboldt considers these ruins as oue of 

 the temporary stations of the Azteka in their migrations from the 

 north to the south ; and he has given some account t' them and the 

 surrounding population according to the information published by two 

 monk* in 1792. Then an also Casas Graude* in the state of 

 Chihuahua between 30 aud 31 K. Ut, where for several leagues 

 the country is covered with the ruins of buildings, among whi 

 aome edifices of very considerable extent Numerous earthen idols 

 somewhat resembling in style those of Egypt have been disinterred, 

 and also jar* and other article*. Hum) !< these also as 



indicating one of the stations of the Azteks, and the extent !' t In- 

 rum* favours his D. The ancient buildings within the 

 limits of the Mexican confederation are the teocallis, or houses of the 

 gods. They are four-sided pyramids, rising by stages or terraces to a 

 considerable elevati"ii. \\ 'ln-u the Spaniards first visited the capital of 

 the Aztsks, they found there an immense edifice of this kin<l, \\hi. h, 

 however, waa destroyed by the fanatic leal of some Spanish clergy nun, 

 when the new town of Mexico was founded. There still exist, however, 

 a considerable number of such building*. A group of such pyramids 

 till remain in the Vale of Mexico at Teotihuacan, about 2U 

 north-east from the capital. It consists of two large pyramids which 

 wen consecrated to the sun and to the moon, and are surrounded by 

 aeveral hundred small pyramids, forming regular streets, which run 

 exactly north and south, or east aud west The larger of the two 

 pyramid* is more than 160 feet and the other 130 feet iu perpen- 

 dicular height The base of the first is 900 feet long. The small 

 pyramid* which surround the two grand ones are from 3d to 40 feet 

 high, and according to the tradition of the natives, they were used as 

 burial-place* for the chief of their tribes. The two large tcocullis 

 have four itage* or landing*. The interior of these edifices consixts of 

 clay mixed with numerous imall (tones ; but t ! 



by a thick wall made of a kind of pumice-atone. It i* stated that on 

 the platform of these edifice* two colossal rtatue* of the sun ami tin 



