Untitled - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 29
must have been the attachment with which the Mound-Builders regarded
this beautiful valley."
According to Colonel Jones, the following curious relics, among a
number of others, have been found from time to time as the result of
excavations made within the area enclosed by the moat. 1. A pipe,
fashioned of a species of green stone, almost equal to Egyptian granite.
It is 3% inches in height. It represents a human figure seated in Oriental
fashion, the extended arms of which uphold an urn of classic pattern,
which constitutes the bowl. The latter is two inches in diameter, with
ornamental rim and unique handles. The countenance of the figure is
clearly not Indian in a single feature. The head is thrown back, and the
uplifted eyes seem to be resting upon some superior, unseen, yet adorable
divinity. The chiseled hair upon the front is gathered upon the top in
a fold, and thence flowing backward is confined behind in a knot. Ears
prominent. 2. A pipe, likewise of stone, 4*4 inches in height, similar in
design to the first, but ruder in its construction. 3. Clay pipes some
perfectly plain, others with rude impressions upon the outside, and scal
loped rims. Probably of Indian origin. Bowl at right angles with the
stem some of baked, others of undried clay. 4. An idol. This interest
ing relic, made of a coarse, dark sandstone, is twelve inches in height.
It consists of a human figure in a sitting posture, the knees drawn up,
almost upon a level with the chin, the hands resting upon the knees.
Retreating chin and forehead full head of hair, gathered into a knot
behind face upturned eyes angular. Not a single feature, not an idea
connected with this image is Indian in its character. Everything about
it suggests the belief that it must have been fashioned by the ancient
Mound-Builders. It is an interesting fact, in this connection, that the
Cherokees were never worshippers of idols: Both Adair and Bartram
testify in positive terms to this effect. 5. A stone plate. This singular
relic is circular in form, eleven inches and a half in diameter, one inch
and a quarter in thickness. Between the scalloped edges and the central
portion of the plate, there are two circular depressed rings. The mate
rial is of a sea-green color. Weight nearly seven pounds. It was
probably never employed for domestic or culinary purposes. We incline
to the belief that it was a consecrated vessel, in which was exposed the
food placed by the Mound-Builders before the idols which they wor
shipped. 6. A shell ornament. Five' and a quarter inches in length;
four and a half inches in width; ovoidal in form; various designs chased
on both inner and outer sides; numerous apertures cut some circular,
some elliptical. It was probably worn as an ornament, suspended from
the neck. The impressions cut upon this shell appear to indicate the
fancy and taste of the artist, rather than any positive attempt at repre
sentation of any particular object or thing. The carved lines may be
hieroglyphical, but who at this day can reveal the hidden meaning?
We are inclined to refer this relic to the handiwork of the Mound-
Builders. 7. Fragments of isinglass. In the construction of mirrors,
this material was constantly used by the Mound-Builders. The most
extraordinary specimen of this character was found at Circleville, in
the Scioto Valley, twenty-six miles south of Columbus. It was three
feet in length one foot .and a half in breadth and one inch and a half
in thickness while on it a plate of iron had become an oxide. 8. Stone