688 MOUND EXPLORATIONS. 



LINKS CONNECTING THE INDIANS DIRECTLY WITH THE MOUND- 

 BUILDERS. 



THE ETOWAH MOUND — STONE GRAVES. 



lu this class of ijroofs properly belouj's the historical evidence; but, 

 as this has been given in a previoiTS chapter, reference is made here 

 only to certain facts which seem to bridge over the supposed gap sep- 

 arating the Indians of historic times from the mound-builders, and to 

 identify certain tribes as pertaining to the latter. 



THE LARGE ETOWAH Mt)UND. 



As the historical evidence adduced shows beyond contradiction that 

 the Indians of the southern portion of the country at the time they 

 were first encountered by Europeans did erect mounds, construct walls 

 of defense, and dig canals, the question of their ability to plan and to com- 

 bine and control force for the constructi(m of such works must be con- 

 ceded. Yet there are probably some long wedded to the theory of a " lost 

 race" or Toltec migration, who will still maintain that only the tumuli 

 and other works of inferior dimensions and simple designs, and the 

 ruder works of art are to be attributed to the Indians, bnt that the 

 larger and more extensive remains are due to a difi'erent race. 



If De Soto's route could be traced minutely and with absolute cer- 

 tainty, it would be possible, no doubt, to identify, so far as they remain, 

 the mounds and other works of which the chroniclers of his expedition 

 speak; but unfortunately this can not be done. Still, there are some 

 parts of it that can be determined within reasonable limits. For 

 exami)le, scarcely a doubt lemains thath(> passed through the northern 

 part of G(^orgia, striking the head waters of the (Joosa river. Now it 

 so happens that while in this region he stopped at an Indian town 

 (Guaxule) in which the house of the cacique was situated on a mound 

 of sufficient size to attract the attention of those of his followers who 

 were Garcilasso's informants. This, there are reasons for believing, 

 was the celebrated Etowah mound near Carters ville. It is true Dr. 

 C. C. Jones, the leading authority on the antiquities of the southern 

 States, locates Guaxule in the southeast corner of Murray county,' bnt 

 in this instance I think he is certainly m error, as no mound has been 

 found there which will in any respect answer the description given. 



Garcilasso says : "La casa estava en un cerro alto, como de otras 

 semejantes hemas dicho. Tenio toda ella al derredor un paseadero que 

 podian pasearse por el seis hombres juntos." " The house stood on a 

 high hill (mt)und) similar to others we h<(ve already mentioned. It had 

 round about it a roadway on which six men might march abreast." ^ 



' Hernando De Soto, p. 35. 



2 History of Florida. Ed. 1723, Lib. in. Cap. .k.k, p. 139, and Eil. of 1605. 



