The Prehistoric World; Or, Vanished RacesAllen, Emory Adams
History
The Prehistoric World; Or, Vanished Races
Allen, Emory Adams
Archaeology; Indians; Prehistoric peoples
All indications point to the fact that near this latter place was
a very important settlement of the Mound Builders. Several
fortified works exist a few miles up the valley; signal-mounds
are to be seen on all heights, commanding a wide view, and the
famous alligator mound is placed, as if with the design of
guarding the entrance to the valley. No verbal description will
give an idea of the works, so we refer at once to the plan. This
will give us a good idea of the works as they were when the first
white settlers gazed upon them. They have nearly all been swept
away by modern improvements, excepting the two circular works and
the octagon. Here and there fragments of the other works can
still be traced.
Mound Builders’ Works, Newark, Ohio.
Two forks of the Licking River unite near Newark; the bottom
between these rivers comprising several square miles, was
occupied by these ancient earth-works. By reference to the plan,
we see the works consisted of mounds of various sizes, parallel
walls, generally of a low elevation, small and low embankments,
in the form of small circles and half-circles. There are also
several large works consisting of a circle and octagon combined,
one large circle, and a parallelogram. The circular structure at
‘E,’ is undoubtedly one of the best preserved and most imposing
in the State. There are many inclosing larger areas, but none
more clearly defined. As this is now included in the fair-grounds
of Licking County, it is preserved from destruction, and will
remain a monument of aboriginal work long after all traces of the
others have disappeared. “At the entrance, which is towards the
east, the ends of the walls curve outwards for a distance of a
hundred feet, leaving a passage way eighty feet wide between the
deep ditches on either hand.” From this point the work, even now
presents an impressive appearance. The walls are twelve feet in
perpendicular height, and about fifty feet base. There is a ditch
close around it on the inside, seven feet deep by thirty-five
feet wide. The area inclosed is about thirty acres.
Eagle Mound. In the center is an effigy-mound, represented by
this cut. It represents a bird on the wing, and is called the
Eagle Mound. The long mound in the body of the bird has been
opened, and it was found to contain an altar, such as has been
already described. Was this a place of sacrifice, and did this
wall inclose a sacred area? Our question remains unanswered. We
can dig in the mounds, and wander over the embankments, but the
secret of the builders eludes us.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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