pass of ordinary observation. Both kinds of
proof may exist at the very same localities.
They do not necessarily imply diverse or remote
geographical positions.v We know that some of
the leading tribes, the Cherokees (till within a
few years,) and the Iroquois, for instance, have
continued to live in the very same positions in
which they were found by the first explorers.
As their chiefs and warriors died, they carried to
their places of burial, (such was the result of
ancient and general custom,) those kinds of
ornaments, arms and utensils, which werh the
distinguishing tokens of art, of thé several eras
in which they lived. The coming of European
races among them introduced fabrics of metal,
earths, enamels, glass, and other materials more
or less durable, and capable of resisting decomposition.
These would necessarily take the
place of the aboriginal articles of stone and shell,
before employed. If then, places of sepulture
were permanent, the inquirer at the present day
would find the various fabrics offthe-second and
the third eras, in the same cemeteries and^hurial
grounds, and sometimes in the same barrows
and mounds.
Modes of defence would also alter by the
introduction of the second period. The simple
ring-fort, with palisades, crowni ng a hill, which
might have served as a place of excellent defence,
against bows and arrows and clubs., would
prove utterly useless, as the Tuscaroras found at
archaeology . 173
Naharuke in 1712, after the introduction of artillery.
A trench to obtain water, from a spring or
c r e e k , leading from one of the works of the older
period, might have been so covered as to afford
full protection from the sipaple aboriginal missiles.
Besides this,, the combination of several
tribes, as the Iroquois the Algonquins, the Er-ies,
Alleghans and-others, might render these simple
forts, defended with ditches, mounds, and other-
wise’, no longer .necessary, in the interior of their
territory; after the time of suc-fi general combinations
orhonfederacies, And in this case,
these, works would be deserted- and beepme rums,
long before the period of the discovery.,'- - h ■. :
At is affirmed by their traditions, that, in the
older -periods of their occupancy of this continent,'
they-were--even/obliged! or their Tears
suggested themeasure,:ta build coverts and forts
to protect themselves and . families from the
inroads of monsters, giants and gigantic animals.
We are not at liberty to disregard • this, be the
Recitals.symbolic* or true^Sucb places would
afford convenient Oheltefs Tor their women and
children, at the particular times of such inroads,
while the warriors collected to make battle
against the copimon enemy. Whether this enemy
carried a huge paw or a spear, we need not
determine. The enemas quite as-much an object
of aboriginal terfof as-the other.- Whatever
be the character of the antiquarian object to he
examined, it will be.well tobear in mmd these
ancient and changing conditions of the aborigin