The Prehistoric World; Or, Vanished RacesAllen, Emory Adams
History
The Prehistoric World; Or, Vanished Races
Allen, Emory Adams
Archaeology; Indians; Prehistoric peoples
Some have supposed that formerly the river flowed at the
extremity of this graded way, and a passage way to the water was
thus furnished. Squier says, in this connection: “It is
sufficient to observe that the river now flows half a mile to the
left, and that two terraces, each twenty feet in height,
intervene between the present and the supposed ancient level of
the stream. To assent to this suggestion, would be to admit an
almost immeasurable antiquity to the structure under
consideration.” The casual observer would say that it was
intended to afford an ascent from one terrace to the other. But
as the height was only seventeen feet, we can not see why it was
so necessary to have a long passage way of easy grade from one
terrace to the other. It was evidently built in connection with
the obliterated works on the third terrace. This interesting
remain is now utilized as a turnpike, and the passing traveler
but little recks he is going over one of the most ancient
causeways in the land. It may be that ceremonious processions,
with stately tread, utilized this causeway in years long since
elapsed. Speculation, always an unsafe guide to follow, is
especially so in this case, and so we leave this memento of a
vanished people as much an enigma to us as to its first
explorers.
We have described but a few of the sacred inclosures of Ohio, but
enough have been given to give us a fair idea of all. We wish now
to call attention to another class of remains. We have seen how
the works we have been describing are lacking in defensive
qualities. This becomes more marked, when we learn there are
works, beyond a doubt, defensive in character, in which advantage
is taken of all circumstances which would render the chosen
retreat more secure. In the first place, strong natural positions
were selected. They chose for their purpose bluffy headlands
leading out into the river plain. A people surrounded by enemies,
or pressed by invaders, would naturally turn their attention to
such heights as places susceptible of defense. Accordingly, it
does not surprise us to find many heights occupied by strong and
complicated works. Generally the approaches to them were rugged
and steep on all but one or two sides, and there they are guarded
by walls of earth or stone.
A fine example of a fortified hill was discovered in Butler
County, Ohio, a few miles below the town of Hamilton. This hill
is the highest one in the immediate vicinity. By reference to the
figure, we see that on all sides, except towards the north, the
approach was steep and precipitous, almost inaccessible.
Fortified Hill, Hamilton, Ohio.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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