HOLMES ANNIVERSARY VOLUME 



the sun were kindled is doubtless similar to one of the inner circles 

 which occur in many of the symbols of this class. This, together with 

 the outer interrupted oval, was compressed to conform to the out- 

 lines of the reptile's head. The opposite openings in the outer oval 

 may represent two arms of the cross. They seem to be analogous to 

 similar openings shown in h of the same plate. It is not improbable 

 that these may have been at one time a cross within the oval. 



I am well aware that the above interpretation of the serpent effigy 

 is at variance with all others, but it is much more in keeping with 

 what we know of the symbolism of these Indians than that of Squier 

 and Davis who saw in it a serpent with open jaws swallowing or 

 ejecting an oval figure, or of MacLean who thought it represented a 

 frog ejecting an egg into the open jaws of the snake. 



A very remarkable earthwork which seems to be of like nature 

 to the one described above occurs on both banks of the Ohio river 

 near Portsmouth. It is shown on plates xxvn and xxvni of Squier 

 and Davis. A portion of this is illustrated on our plate I, h. It con- 

 sists of a truncated central mound surrounded by a ditch and having 

 a graded way to the top. This is inclosed by concentric circles inter- 

 rupted by passageways in the form of a cross. This great cosmic 

 symbol is 1300 feet in diameter and is connected with a group of 

 works three and one-half miles distant by serpent-like parallel lines 

 of earthworks. This gigantic conventionalized figure probably em- 

 bodies ideas similar to those of the Serpent Mound. 



In Paint Creek valley, near Bournville, is an effigy of stones 1 

 which is reproduced on plate I, a. It is about 250 feet in diameter 

 and doubtless represents the foot and claws of the bear. Analogous 

 designs are shown in b and c. The former is cut from copper and the 

 latter forms a part of the design incised upon the human femur 

 illustrated in i, I, plate vi. 



The earthwork in the form of a cross with the central sun symbol 2 

 shown in d, occupies a narrow spur of land in Pickaway county. 

 This undoubtedly embodies a meaning similar to that of the cross 

 and central circle represented in e, h, and k. The gateway to the 

 great inclosure near Hamilton, Butler county, 3 is represented in /. 

 This is probably also symbolic, as we have a like design upon the bone 

 shown in g, and plate vi, i and /. 



ARTIFACTS OF METAL 



In common with other American tribes, the builders of the great 



1 Squier and Davis, plates III and XXX. * Ibid., plate vm. 



3 Ibid., plate xxvi. 



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