both mummied and unmummied crania have been taken, of still
higher antiquity, in perfect preservation; and numerous other proofs
might be brought forward to the same effect: nevertheless, the skeletons
deposited in our Indian mounds, from the Lakes to the Gulf,
are crumbling into dust through age alone!
Speaking of the mound-builders, it is said: —
“ The only skull incontestably belonging to an individual of that race, ■which has been
recovered entire, or sufficiently well preserved to be of value for purposes of comparison,
was taken from the hill-mound, numbered 8 in the map of a section of twelve miles of the
Scioto Valley.”
Squier’s account continues: —
“ The circumstances under which this skull was found are, altogether, so extraordinary
as to merit a detailed account. It will be observed, from the map, that the mound above
indicated is situated upon the summit of a high hill, overlooking the valley of the Scioto,
about four miles below the city of Chilicothe. It is one of the most prominent and commanding
positions in that section of .country. Upon the summit of this hill rises a conical
knoll, of so great regularity as almost to induce the belief that it is itself artificial. Upon
the very apex of this knoll, and covered by the trees of the primitive forests, is the mound.
It is about eight feet high, by forty or fifty feet base. The superstructure is a tough yellow
clay, which, at the depth of three feet, is mixed with large, rough stones; as shown in the
accompanying section, (Fig. 197).
“ These stones rest upon a dry, calcareous deposit of buried earth and small stones, of a
dark black colour, and much compacted. This deposit is about two feet in thickness, in
the centre, and rests upon the original soil. In excavating the mound, a large plate of
mica was discovered, placed upon the stones Immediately underneath this plate of
mica, and in the centre of the buried deposit, was found the skull figured in the plates
(Figs. 198, 199). It was discovered resting upon its face. The lower jaw, as, indeed, the
entire skeleton, excepting the clavicle, a few cervical vertebrae, and some of ,the bones of
the feet, all of which were huddled around the skull, were wanting.
“ From the entire singularity of this burial, it might be inferred that the deposit was a
comparatively recent one; but the fact that the various layers of carbonaceous earth, stones,
and clay were entirely undisturbed, and in no degree intermixed, settles the question beyond
doubt, that the skull was placed where it was found, at the time of the construction
of the mound. . . .
“ This skull is wonderfully preserved; unaccountably so, unless the circumstances under
which it was found may be regarded as most favorable to such a result. The imperviousness
of the mound to water, from the nature of the material composing it, and its position
on the summit of an eminence, subsiding in every direction from its base, are circumstances
which, joined to the antiseptic qualities of the carbonaceous deposit enveloping the skull,
may satisfactorily account for its excellent preservation.”
A twofold interest attaches to the mound (Fig. 197), of which we
offer a sectional tracing. On the one hand it indicates the pains
bestowed by ancient American man upon the dead; thus evincing
considerable civilization: on the other, the eentral tumular position
in which this unique cranium was discovered, establishes an ante-
Columbian age for its builders, and segregates it entirely from the
ruder sepulchres of our modem Indians.
We present a vertical and a profile engraving of this ancient skull,
one exceedingly characteristic of our American races, although more
F ig. 198. F ig . 199,
particularly of the Toltecan; having already stated that the Barbarous
tribes possessed more development of the posterior part of the
brain than the Toltees. An examination of this skull will elicit the
following characteristic peculiarities — forehead low, narrow, and receding
; flattened occiput; a perpendicular line drawn through the
external meatus of the ear, divides the brain into two unequal parts,
of which the posterior is much the smaller; forming, in this respect,
a striking contrast with other, and more particularly the Negro, races.
Viewed from above, the anterior part of the brain is narrow, and the
posterior and middle portion, over the organs of caution, secretiveness,
destructiveness, &c., very broad, thus lending much support to
phrenology: vertex prominent. [These peculiarities are confirmed by
the numerous measurements of Dr. Morton, and by the observations
of many other anatomists, as well as our own. Identical characters,
too, pervade all the American races, ancient and modern, over the
whole continent. We have compared
many heads of living tribes, Cherokees,
Choctaws, Mexicans, &c>, as well as crania
from mounds of all ages, and the
same general organism characterizes
each one. — Ji C. M.]
Any South-African race, compared
with an American Indian, would exhibit
a contrast almost as salient; but
a Bosjesman (Fig. 200) from the Cape
F ig . 200.375