STONE-HEAPS — STOi\ ES OF MEMORIAL, ETC. 157 



and various circumstances contributed to eftect a compromise, which resuhed in 

 the combination of the two figures, or the adoption of the octagonal form instead." 

 Mr. Dudley instances several examples of these combinations among the early- 

 Grecian and Celtic remains, and observes, " if the sacred structures of early anti- 

 quity were examined with reference to this doctrine, many and ample proofs of its 

 truth would be discovered." — (Naology, pp. 345, 358, ubi supra.) 



If we were to adopt the hypothesis advanced by Mr. Dudley, the fact that the 

 American nations almost universally entertained the idea that the earth was square, 

 would become invested with importance. 



But, as already observed, these latter suggestions are simply thrown forward as 

 plausible, and not as indicating a settled opinion. The refinement of symbolism 

 which they imply, will, however, appear less improbable, when we come to learn 

 to what extent the semi-civilized nations of America, in their religious beliefs and 

 conceptions, display an identity with the primitive nations of the Old World. 



The hypothesis of a symbohcal design in the forms and combinations of these 

 structures may seem somewhat new and startling to most minds. There are, 

 however, many other facts and considerations having a direct bearing upon it, 

 which will appear in a succeeding work. Meantime, and before passing to colla- 

 teral inquiries, it will not be out of place to repeat, that the great size of many of 

 the structures to which we have assigned a sacred origin, precludes the idea that 

 they were temples in the ordinary acceptation of the term. It is probable that, 

 like the great .circles of England, the squares of India, Peru, and Mexico, they were 

 the sacred enclosures within which were erected the shrines of the gods of the 

 ancient worship, and the altars cf the ancient religion. They may have embraced 

 consecrated groves, and, as they did in Mexico, the residences of the ancient priest- 

 hood. Like the sacred structures of the country last named, some of them may 

 have been secondarily designed for protection in times of danger. 



8T0NE-HEAPS— STONES OF MEMORIAL— STONE CIRCLES. 



It has been noticed, on a preceding page, that occasional large heaps of stone, 

 owing their origin to the aborigines, are to be found in the State of New York. 

 Particular reference was made to one in Scoharie county, which is described more 

 in detail in Howe's Gazetteer of New York, as follows : 



" Between Scoharie Creek and Caughnawaga was an Indian trail, and near it, in 

 the north bounds of Scoharie county, has been seen, from time immemorial, a large 

 pile of stones, which has given the name of ' Stone Heap Patent ' to the tract on 



