28 MOUND EXPLORATIONS. 



attempts a systematic arraugement will be disposed to accept as true. 

 Any attempt iu this direction must be, to a large extent, arbitrary and 

 a tentative arrangement. Nothing more than this is claimed for the 

 classiticatiou here presented, which is limited to the works of the area 

 now under consideration. Were it not for the absolute necessity of 

 grouping under <lesignated heads in oi'der to simplify the work, uo 

 attempt in this direction would be made at this time. 



It is undoubtedly desirable to adopt some arrangement agreeing 

 with the European classification if this be possible, but a comparison of 

 European antitiuities with those of North America will soon satisfy 

 any one of its impracticability. The cln-ouological arrangement into 

 four classes, to wit, Paleolithic, Neolithic, Biouze, ami Iron, is con- 

 ceded to be inapplicable to America. Evidences of the two stone ages 

 may possibly yet be found, and a copper age be substituted for the 

 bronze, but the likeness will extend uo farther. I may add that, per- 

 sonally, I iloubt very much if this classification into ages has been of 

 any advantage to archeology. 



As the first step, all antiquities of this region are considered as be- 

 longing to three general divisions : 



(1) Monuments, or local antiquities. — Those antiquities that are fixed 

 or stationary, which necessarily pertain to a given locality or place, as 

 earthworks, stoneworks, cave dwellings, mines, quarries, etc. 



(2) Movable antiquities, or relics and remains. — Those which have no 

 necessary connection with a given place or locality, such as implements, 

 ornaments, and other minor vestiges of art; also human and animal 

 remains, etc. 



(3) Paleographic objects. — Inscriptions, picture writings, symbols, etc., 

 whether on fixed stones or transportable articles. 



Although this arrangement is confessedly an arbitrary one, it is 

 adopted because it appears to be a practical working system by 

 which the lines of distinction are somewhat rigidly drawn. Moreover, 

 it is adapted to the two methods of investigation and study, viz, in the 

 field and in the museum. 



THE FIXED OR LOCAL ANTIQUITIES. 



The fixed or local antiquities of the section under consideration con- 

 sist chiefly of earthworks, stoneworks, cave deposits, mines and quar- 

 ries, and might be classed under these heads but for the fact that some 

 belong partly to one class and partly to another; for example, while 

 most nu)unds are built entirely of earth, soiue consist wholly of stone 

 and others are i)artly stone and partly earth; then there are other 

 local antiquities which can not be properly classed under either of these 

 headings. The nearest approach, therefore, which can be made to a 

 satisfactory classiticatiou is to group the individual monuments accord- 

 ing to types of form and external cliaracters, reference being made to 

 uses only where these are obvious. 



