Illinois -- Antiquities; Indians of North America -- Illinois -- Antiquities
It is a notable fact that practically all arrow points found in this
locality are small, ranging from three-quarters of an inch to an inch
and one-half in length. The cut shows several other relics, all of
which were found near "Cahokia." The surface of the adjoining fields
are literally covered with fragments of ancient pottery. Judging from
the fancy rims and handles and the engravings on these fragments it is
evident that the mound builders were very adept in the manufacture of
this kind of pottery. The cut shows two specimens of broken pottery
and the particular surface markings on the same. There is also an
imitation of a birds head made of the same material. This was probably
an ornament or handle for some vessel. This pottery was evidently
colored in some manner as some of the fragments are bright red in
color and others are jet black or brown. Many pieces were highly
polished. There is also shown in the cut a conch core or sea shell
with reversed whorls. This one is six inches long and of these there
seem to be a great number found in this locality and found in such a
position and under such circumstances as to leave hardly a doubt in
the mind that they were held sacred by the mound builders and used in
their religious ceremonies.
A brass signet ring was also found which is evidently traders material
and may possibly have been brought there by the "monks." This ring
has a pecular emblem on the flat circular surface which looks like a
right angle with a character in the center shaped like a heart. The
circular surface of the seal or signet is five-sixteenths of an inch
in diameter and the size of the ring is three-quarter inch.
There is also shown a blue glass bead. Several beads of different
material have been found here but the most rare is one shown in
the cut, made of shell, circular in form, one inch in diameter and
three-sixteenths of an inch in thickness, with a three-sixteenths inch
hole through the center. This specimen is of the kind commonly known
as wampum and was used by the Indians as money. There is also shown in
the cut a bear's claw of which several were found by members of our
party.
The largest specimen shown in the center of the cut is a chert hoe or
cultivating implement found by the writer. This specimen is seven and
one half inches long and tapers from two to four and three quarters
inches in width. It was discovered about eighteen inches below the
surface in the field north-east of the great "Cahokia mound." The
accompanying cut shows the location of this find and a good view of
the surroundings.
_A Visit to Hopiland._
_By Miss Edith M. Cox and Herbert Cox._
At sunset on the first of August, 1913, we were at last ready to leave
Holbrook, Arizona for Hopiland--almost a hundred miles northward from
this point on the Santa Fe. The Indians--never in a hurry--had taken
the greater part of the day in loading the three white covered wagons.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account