98 Indian Mounds and Earthworks. 



Learned archsBologists have speculated as to what nation, in 

 far distant times, constructed the ordinary tumuh of circular form, 

 so abundant in the great Mississippi valley. They have not yet, 

 I believe, commenced to descant on the origin of those other con- 

 figurations, the recent examination of which has given rise to the 

 present article. From that highly important contribution to 

 North American early history, the ''Antiquitates Americanae," 

 lately edited by the Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries of 

 Copenhagen, little or no knowledge can be acquired respecting 

 the mounds of North America ; and the communication in the 

 same work from the Rhode Island Historical Society, refers, for 

 the most part, merely to the chiseled figures and hieroglyphics 

 on the rocks of Rhode Island. 



There are few, if any, authentic sources at hand, from whence 

 to draw information, and it is no doubt quite unsafe to rely upon 

 the accuracy of Indian traditions concerning these mounds, espe- 

 cially as the last occupiers of the soil were but comparatively in 

 recent possession. Successive tribes have occupied, by turns, the 

 region of country where these apparent animal and human effi- 

 gies abound. The Winnebago Indians, a branch of the great 

 Dahcotah or Sioux family, have held possession of that part of 

 the Wisconsin country which lies immediately south of the Wis- 

 consin river, and east of the Mississippi, only from sixty to eighty 

 years. Previously to this time the district was in the hands of 

 the Sauks and Fox Indians, a branch of the Chippewas, who dug 

 and smelted the lead ore, but were driven out by the Winneba- 

 gos. Neither of these tribes now erect permanent monuments 

 of this character, to the memory of their dead. We have seen 

 them, it is true, in numerous places, excavate graves, and deposit 

 the remains of the deceased on the summits of the ancient circu- 

 lar tumuli, which they appear to conceive were constructed for 

 such purposes. Some of these modern burial places are accom- 

 pamied by rude memorials, denoting the tribe and rank, and some- 

 times by hieroglyphics, in red paint, even recording the principal 

 achievements of distinguished individuals. 



But to a far different race, assuredly, and to a far distant pe- 

 riod, must we look when seeking to trace the authors of these 

 singular mounds, and the earthworks of such various forms, which 

 are spread over the North American continent, from Lake Supe- 

 rior to Mexico. The degenerate Menominees, and the slothful 



