Archaohgia Americana. 359 



the contioent they are situated ; yet the examination of the 

 whole will be useful ; as the few weapons, ornaments, and 

 instruments of labor, which may still be found, will aiFord 

 new varieties, and furnish important aid, in any comparison 

 between these and similar remains in the northern regions of 

 Asia and Europe. 



The Asiatic tumuli scattered over the whole tract from 

 the borders of the Wolga and its western branches, to the 

 lake Baikal, and perhaps to the straits which separate 

 Asia from America, according to Mr. Tooke, are found onlyiP 

 in plains and extensive deserts, which seem to have been 

 the abode of a nation which subsisted by pasturage and the 

 produce of the chase. There is in this respect, a striking 

 resemblance between the ancient mounds of Asia and Amer- 

 ica: as none, it is beheved, have yet been found in America 

 in the mountainous regions. It is true Mr. Tooke supposes 

 these Asiatic monuments to be of comparatively modern 

 date, and refers them to the Tartars of Jenghis Khan and 

 their immediate successors, and it is certain that the Kal- 

 raucs are still in the habit of burying horses, arms, &.c. with 

 their chiefs. The truth probably is, that these monuments 

 are of very different ages ; and that there are among them 

 those of the ancient Scythians, as well as those of the mod- 

 ern Tartars who have succeeded them. It is by a careful 

 discrimination of the different ages of these tumuli ; their 

 several peculiarities, and especially the utensils which may 

 be discovered in them; and by an exact comparison of 

 these with similar remains on our own continent, that we 

 can hope to approximate towards the time when these latter 

 works were erected. Whatever may be thought of this, al! 

 will admit, that the subject of these antiquities is one of ra- 

 tional curiosity. 



We consider this publication as adding much to our former 

 stock of materials for deciding the questi(»n which has so 

 long perplexed historians and antiquaries, and which has 

 led to so much vague speculation, — we mean, the original 

 peopling of America. While we acknowledge our obliga- 

 tions to the Antiquarian Society for what they have already 

 done, we would express a hope they will not relinquish the 

 inquiries which they have so successfully commenced. It 

 is an object which falls directly within the design of their as^ 

 sociation and what they have already accomplished will fa- 

 cilitate their future operations. 



