Finch on the Celtic Antiquities of America. 15^ 



It seems probable that if these untutored nations wished, 

 in a more particular manner, to perpetuate the memory of 

 some one, who was near and dear to them, who had given 

 his nation important councils in peace, or raised the fame 

 of his country in war, then they thought the mound of earth 

 too humble a covering for his remains, and raised high a 

 pile of stones, to mark to future times, the tomb of their fa- 

 vorite chief. In the Celtic language, these were called 

 Cairn. 



J. C. Atwater mentions them as occurring near Newark, 

 and in the counties of Perry, Pickaway and Ross. 



In Dr. Dwight's travels in Connecticut, there are noticed 

 two of these stone tumuli, which appear to have been erect- 

 ed over offenders against the law. 



Adair, in his History of the North American Indians, says, 

 " in the woods we often see innumerable heaps of small stones 

 in those places, where according to tradition, some of their 

 distinguished people were either killed or buried. There 

 they add stone to stone, still encreasing every heap, as a 

 lasting monument and honor to the dead and an incentive to 

 great actions in the survivors." 



In the same volume it is said, "the Cherokees continue to 

 raise and multiply heaps of stones, as monuments for their 

 deceased warriors." 



Mr. Jefferson says they occur in Virginia ; — they are al- 

 so mentioned by other historians, and tradition relates that 

 the Indians in passing these tumuli still add a stone to the 

 heap to shew their respect lo the memory of the heroes 

 of other times, the ancient Celtic chiefs. 



These monuments of the aborigines, carry with them un- 

 doubted evidence of their Celtic origin, and although few 

 'are at present described, yet when the country is fully ex- 

 plored, many other remains of the same character may be 

 observed. Moderns build their temples in crowded cities, 

 and the talent of eminent architects is put in requisition, to 

 erect the most splendid edifices that skill and taste can pro- 

 duce, but the wild and untutored Goth, Celt, Scythian, In- 

 dian, and Druid, thought it a disgrace that their Gods, who 

 created the immensity of the heavens should be confined in 

 buildings made by the hands of men. They worshipped 

 them in the solitude and silence of retired groves and woods. 



