The Prehistoric World; Or, Vanished RacesAllen, Emory Adams
History
The Prehistoric World; Or, Vanished Races
Allen, Emory Adams
Archaeology; Indians; Prehistoric peoples
One beautiful specimen of this work is found in this cut. It
occurs on the right bank of the Scioto river, five miles below
Chillicothe. Here we notice a combination of the octagon and the
circle. The areas of each are marked. The octagon is nine hundred
and fifty feet in diameter, and nearly regular in shape. In 1846
its walls were eleven or twelve feet high, by about fifty feet
base. It will be noticed that there is a gate at or near each
angle of the octagon except one, and in front of that angle was a
pit, from which some of the earth to form the walls was taken.
Facing each gateway a mound was placed, as if to guard the
entrance.
The circle connected with the octagon is perfect in shape, and is
ten hundred and fifty feet in diameter. Its walls were only about
half the height of the octagon. We notice some other small
circular works in connection with the main work. In this case the
parallels are not very regular, and seem to be connected with one
or more circular works. In a work situated but a few miles from
the one here portrayed, the parallels extend in one direction
nearly half a mile, only one hundred and fifty feet apart. They
terminate on the edge of a terrace. The object of such parallels
is as yet unknown. In some cases, after extending some distance,
they simply inclosed a mound.
It is easy enough to describe this work and give its dimensions,
but who will tell us the object its builders had in mind? The
walls themselves would afford but slight protection and if they
were for defense, must have been surmounted with palisades. Works
that were undoubtedly in the nature of fortified camps, are found
in this same section, and one of the strongest was located not
more than twelve miles away; but such defensive works differ very
greatly in design from regular structures such as we are now
describing. A very eminent scholar, Mr. Morgan, has advanced the
theory that the walls were the foundations on which communal
houses, like the Pueblos of the West, were erected.61 But this is
mere theory. All traces of such habitations (if they ever
existed) are gone, the usual _debris_ which would be sure to
accumulate around house-sites, is wanting, and the walls
themselves seem unfit for such purpose.62
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.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account