CHAPTEll IV. 



THK CHEEOKEES AS MOUND -BUILDERS. 



As the evidence on this poiut has to a large extent been presented in 

 my article on "Bnrial Mouuds of the Northern Section,"' also in articles 

 published in the Magazine of American History ^ and in the American 

 Naturalist,^ it will be necessary here only to introduce a few additional 

 items. 



The iron implements which are alluded to in the above-mentioned 

 articles also in Science,'* as found in alSTorth Carolina mound, and which 

 analysis shows Avere not meteoric, furnish conclusive evidence that the 

 tumulus was built after the Europeans had reached America; and as 

 it is shown in the same article that the Cherokees must have occupied 

 the region from the time of its discovery up to its settlement by the 

 whites it is more than probable they were the builders. A figure of 

 one of the pieces is introduced here. 



Fig. 1. Part of au iron blade from a North Carolina mound. 



Additional and perhaps still stronger evidence, if stronger be needed, 

 that the i^eoplo of this tribe were the authors of most of the ancient 

 works in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee is to be found 

 in certain discoveries made b}' the Bureau assistants in Monroe County, 

 Tenu. 



A careful exploration of the valley of the Little Tennessee Eiver, from 

 the point where it leaves the mountains to its confluence with the Hol- 

 ston, was made, and the various mound groups were located and sur- 

 veyed. These were found to correspond down as far as the position of 



1 Fifth Ann. Kept. Bur. Ethuol, 

 "- May, 1884, pp. 396-407. 



3 Vol. 18, 1884, pp. 232-240. 

 ■* Science, vol. 3, 1884, pp. 308-310. 



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