52 GEOLOGY OF OHIO. 



wonderful thing that is to throw a flood of light upon the history of an 

 unknown race. It behooves students to be on the lookout for such frauds, 

 as they appear in the most unexpected places. 



CONCLUSION. 



FURTHER EXPLORATIONS NECESSARY. 



It is not probable any manuscripts, inscriptions, or other records will 

 ever be discovered, which will aid in solving the unanswered questions 

 concerning the Mound Builders. Additional information is to be gained 

 only by investigation of their mounds, cemeteries, and village-sites. This 

 work, to be of value, must be done carefully and thoroughly. Sinking 

 a shaft from the apex, or running a narrow trench in from one side of a 

 mound, will seldom give satisfactory results. Conclusions based upon 

 facts thus brought to light, may be correct; but there can be no certainty 

 that they are even approximately so, for a section at one place may not 

 at all resemble one made at another in the same structure. The assump- 

 tion is entirely unfounded that all the artificial contents are deposited in 

 a small space in the center; sometimes there is nothing within several feet 

 of it, while remains are found at various other points. There is little doubt 

 that many, if not most, of the mounds which have been opened, yet con- 

 tain more than has ever been taken out of them. Almost always, a record 

 of the structure of the mound, the position of skeletons, and the arrange- 

 ment of objects with them, would be the most important part of the work; 

 but these are usually the very features of which no notice is taken by 

 persons who have not had considerable experience in such matters. 



PROPER METHODS OF WORK. 



The best method of opening a mound, depends upon its size and 

 form. It is useless to waste time upon any part which from disturbance 

 by cultivation or other cause is not where it was placed by the builders. 

 Only the unaltered portion requires attention. If but little changed in 

 shape, the entire mound should be removed. Owing to the accumulation 

 of soil, the bottom may be somewhat below the surrounding surface; for 

 this reason excavation should be carried to a sufficient depth to make 

 sure nothing is overlooked. Frequently the original surface is easily 

 detected by a sod line, or by a slight difference in color; if not, it will be 

 necessary to work along the top of the subsoil. For convenience of 

 description, it is well to draw two lines crossing at a right angle at the 

 center, and other lines, parallel to these, five feet apart, thus dividing the 

 mound into blocks which may be designated by numbers or letters to 

 correspond with a plan drawn on a scale of five feet to the inch. Whatever 

 ma)* be found in one of these blocks is to be shown in its proper position 

 in the drawing. It is best to be°:in on the side toward one of the cardinal 



