Untitled - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 31
tained. While there are indications now and then of what may be
termed an intrusive type of civilization, referred by some to occasional
adventures and migrations, having an impulse from the east toward
the Atlantic coast, we incline to the opinion which looks to Mexico as
the parent of the immediate civilization which originated in this valley,
and which resulted in these memorials to the industry, religious zeal and
military skill of a people who, in the absence of some definite name, are
denominated Mound-Builders. The remains which they have left behind
them .are in many instances precisely similar to those which have been
exhumed in the valleys and at the base of these ancient temples, seated
upon the plains of Mexico. Another fact worthy of notice is this: these
remains are generally located upon or near streams, having communi
cation directly or indirectly with the Gulf." *
Since the locality in question was visited by Colonel Jones, light
from other sources has been thrown upon these mysterious tumuli. The
following item is copied from one of the old scrap-books of Judge Rich
ard H. Clarke. It reads:
"Several years ago an Indian mound was opened near Cartersville,
Ga., by a committee of scientists' from Smithsonian. After removing the
dirt for some distance a layer of large flag-stones was found, which had
evidently been dressed by hand, showing that the men who quarried the
rock understood the business. These stones were removed, and in a
vault beneath them was found the skeleton of a giant, measuring seven
feet and two inches. His hair was coarse and jet black, and hung to the
waist, the brow being ornamented with a copper crown. The skeleton
was remarkably well preserved and was taken from the vault intact.
Nearby were found the bodies of several children of various sizes. The
remains of the latter were covered with beads made of bone of some
kind. Upon removing these the bodies were found to be enclosed in a
net-work of straw or reeds, and underneath these was a covering of
the skin of some animal. In fact, the bodies had been prepared some
what after the manner of mummies and will doubtless throw new light
upon the history of the people who reared these mounds. On the stones
which covered the vault were carved inscriptions, and if deciphered
will probably lift the veil which has enshrouded the history of the race
of giants which undoubtedly at one time inhabited the continent.''
Concerning the memorials of a prehistoric race to be found in the
neighborhood of Rome, Col. Chas. C. Jones, writing in 1861, observes: t
"The organic traces of the Mound-Builders are frequent in this
neighborhood. Just where the rivers meet, there once stood upon the
point of land, whose base is washed by these streams, ari interesting
mound, circular in shape, some twelve or fifteen feet in height and, at
the base, not less than fifty feet in diameter. The earth and clay which
* Charles C. Jones, Jr., in '' Monumental Bemains of Georgia,'' pp. 27-119.
t "Monumental Eemains of Georgia," by Charles C. Jones, Jr., pp. 82-83,
Savannah, 1861.