Ancient Villages Among Emblematic Mounds. 15^ 



always springs of water. 6tli. In certain localities there 

 were arrangements or contrivances constructed from wooden 

 stockades by which game were entrapped. This was not 

 miiversal, but there are certain sketches in certain books, 

 especially in Champlain's works, which illustrate the fact. 

 The Indians of Wisconsin are not known to have constructed 

 game drives, but the point is an interesting one. 7th. There 

 are various traditions in reference to the attachments which 

 the Indians had for the localities where the villages were 

 situated, and in reference to the religious ceremonies which 

 were observed in or near their villages. These seven par- 

 ticulars we have here mentioned, because they illustrate 

 certain points which we have discovered in connection with 

 the emblematic mounds. The identification of a village site 

 surrounded by emblematic mounds, has led to the discovery 

 of the same characteristics, and proves interesting on this 

 account. The mere discovery of a village site would not 

 avail much were there not some further information gained 

 from it. In describing the villages of the emblematic 

 mounds, we shall draw the comparison and speak of the 

 specific items or elements which seem to have been common 

 among the villages. We shall first refer to one particular 

 village and then show what its characteristics were and 

 then draw the comparison between this particular village 

 and other supposed villages and from the aggregate draw 

 conclusions in reference to what constituted village life. 



The identification of a village site among the emblematic 

 mounds is an interesting f act,and one worthy of notice in this 

 connection. In the first place it proves that the mound build- 

 ers dwelt in villages. This has indeed been rendered probable 

 by other facts, but has not been hitherto proved for a cer- 

 tainty. In the second place it furnishes a clue to a certain 

 class of works which have been supposed to mark village 

 sites, but concerning which there has been also much uncer- 

 tainty. These works have been discovered by the author in 

 various localities and the conjecture has often arisen that 

 they were village sites. The comparison between them and 

 the works which are known to have surrounded a village 

 now clears up the uncertainty. 



