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defence. So, as the predominating structures were earthen 

 mounds, they attributed them to the red occupants of the land, 

 and called them "Indian mounds." Now comes the question, 

 Who' and what were the mound-builders ? All the data we 

 have are the structures and the skeletons and relics found in 

 their graves. Perfect skulls are rare. Generally they are in 

 fragments, but the comparatively few crania we have are fair 

 average skulls. As Professor Huxley said regarding a quite 

 different skull, that "It might have held the brain of an educated 

 European or the thoughtless brain of a savage." They are not 

 distinguishable of themselves from those of the American 

 Indians, nor from the general run of Caucasian skulls. But it 

 is clear they had no- written language, for they have left noth- 

 ing that can be construed intO' an inscription. Their tobacco 

 pipes of soap-stone, greenstone, slate, &c., are often carved 

 into the rude similitude of the beaver, otter, deer, and turtle, 

 the owl, duck, heron, eagle, or other birds, but show no traces 

 of inscription of any kind. Their pottery, found chiefly in the 

 South, shows the simplest ornamentation, but nothing that can 

 be construed intO' a record. They were in the neolithic stage, 

 for the only metal found in their graves is native copper in 

 plates or beads, and their copper was obtained from the mines 

 at present worked on the south side of Lake Superior. They 

 used it only for ornament. Their weapons and tools were of 

 stone or bone. They made rude textiles, for some few remains 

 of such have been found, apparently woven of long grasses. 

 They were an agricultural people, as is shown by the fact that 

 their works are found on or adjacent to areas which have rich 

 alluvial soil. They could not be herdsmen, because the ox, 

 the horse, the sheep, and the pig were not known to them, and 

 were introduced into North America by Europeans. They 

 cultivated maize, because its charred grains have been found in 

 their kitchen-middens. Many theories have been advanced, 

 but the latest drift of opinion among American archaeologists 

 is that they were of the same race, but more peaceful, than the 

 Indians who occupied the land when it was set'tled from 

 Europe, tribal in their civilisation, and exterminated or absorbed 



