722 MOUND EXPLORATIONS. 



GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 



The hope of ultimately solving the great problem.s of the pre-Colum- 

 biau times of our coiitiueut is perhaps as lively today as iu former 

 years. But, with the vast increase of knowledge in recent years in 

 reference to the data bearing on these questions, a moditication of the 

 hope entertained has taken place. While no thought any longer exists 

 of ascertaining the exact date of or any definite particulars in regard 

 to the migration by which the western continent received its first set- 

 tlers; yet there is an exijectation that the advance in scientiiic knowl- 

 edge and methods of investigation, together with the long and careful 

 study of all the data, will result in determining in a general sense the 

 age in which this first introduction of population took place, and in 

 deciding what race or races contributed to this population. 



This expectation includes the determination with reasonable certainty 

 of the route or routes of this migration. The method of treating the 

 subject has also been changed from that of mere theorizing to scientific 

 deduction. The literary world is now and then amused at the revival 

 of some old, exi)loded tlieory or the presentation of some new one equally 

 absurd; but allusion is made here only to those efforts which appear to 

 be based on some legitimate data. 



The tendency at present appears to be to base the tentative efforts in 

 this direction on the linguistic evidence, leaving out of view the impor- 

 tant aid to be derived from a careful "study of the archeological data 

 bearing upon the subject or referring to it only where it seems to cor- 

 roborate the theories based on the linguistic evidence. This arises in 

 part from the fact that while the archeological data relating to a large 

 portion of the continent are few, and that archeology can not, as yet, 

 be considered a true science; on the other hand the linguistic material, 

 although not complete, is much more abundant, and the treatment 

 thereof reduced to true scientific methods. As the latter field affords 

 greater promise of reaching jjositive conclusions, it is more attractive 

 to methodical students. 



As the discussion of this subject from the linguistic standpoint is 

 necessarily based upon the study of the various linguistic stocks and 

 families of the entire continent, and, to some extent upon the migra- 

 tions therein, so the discussion of the same questions from the archeo- 

 logical standpoint nuist be based upon the study of the various types 

 and tlieir distribution over the continent. And the same necessity for 

 generalization and classification arises here as iu the linguistic field. 

 Although the lines of demarkation between the types and groups with 

 which the antiquarian has to deal are ai)parently less distinct than 

 those with which the pliilologist is concerned, yet careful study will 

 .show that this difference is not so great as at first it seems to be. The 

 indications of comprehensive archeologic sections and also of minor 



