AMERICAN ANTIQUITIES. 35 



of a man and woman, who were preserved in a cavern. 

 Many similar traditions exist ; while it is probable that those 

 mentioned refer to the destruction of the Cities of the Plain 

 by fire which came down from heaven, and to the confusion 

 of tongues which fell upon the descendants of Noah in the 

 plain of Shinar. 



AMERICAN ANTIQUITIES. 



We are apt to suppose that the wild inhabitants of the 

 New World have ever existed in the same savage state as 

 that in which they are found. Vast numbers, however, of 

 remains, and buildings of great antiquity, have of late years 

 been discovered, showing that at one time either their an- 

 cestors, or other tribes who have passed away, had made great 

 progress in civilization. As the white man has advanced 

 westward, and dug deep into the soil, whilst forming railway- 

 cuttings, digging wells, and other works, numerous interesting- 

 remains have been discovered a large number of fortified 

 camps of vast extent, and even the foundations of cities, with 

 their streets and squares, have been brought to light. Idols, 

 pitchers of clay, ornaments of copper, circular medals, arrow- 

 heads, and even mirrors of isinglass, in great numbers, have 

 been found throughout the country. .Some of the articles ot 

 pottery are skilfully wrought, and polished, glazed, and 

 burned ; inferior in no respects to those of Egypt and 

 Babylon. 



In Tennessee, an earthen pitcher, holding a gallon, was dis- 

 covered on a rock twenty feet below the surface. It was 

 surmounted by the figure of a female head covered with a 

 conical cap. The features greatly resembled those of Asiatics, 

 and the ears, extending as low as the chin, were of great size. 



