smaller
mounds within the general inclosure, besides a few unimportant ones
outside of it, and the main connected group in the special inclosure
near the center. These latter form together what is known as the Effigy
mound, a name based upon its general resemblance to a reclining human
figure; but it is not constructed on a human or animal design, as are
the effigy mounds properly so called. After working for a time upon
some of the others, and finding much interesting material, Mr.
Moorehead set his men to work upon the Effigy mound, and spent most of
his time and effort upon that'remarkable structure, of which he made a
very thorough and systematic exploration.
The
Effigy mound is about 500 feet long and 220 feet wide, and rises 23
feet above the general surface at its highest point. It proves to
belong to the fourth class of Squier and Davis, those of mixed
character, with both altars and burials, as it contained three large
altars and as many as 175 skeletons, nearly all of adults.
Reviewing
now the entire exploration of the Hopewell group, the first mound
opened, known as No. 17, was of considerable size, nearly ninety feet
in diameter, and was notable for a layer of mica—some 3000 sheets—that
extended almost entirely through it. It contained a rude altar, with
ashes and bones, some copper implements, bone needles, sharks' teeth,
and nearly 200 pounds of bright galena. The next examined, No. 18,
contained several decayed skeletons, and a good example of an "altar,"
together with ornaments cut from human skulls. The next, No. 19, had an
altar of earth, partially hardened by heat, which was taken out entire
and boxed. It was roughly cubical, about three feet each way. In the
"bowl," or concavity, on the top of it, were various minor implements,
with some galena and mica, etc. The next attacked was a large mound,
No. 2, which had been partly opened by Squier and Davis, nearly fifty
years before. It is remarkable for its immense store of roughly chipped
flint disks, over 8000 in number, of which 600 were taken out by Squier
and Davis, and most of the remainder by Mr. Moorehead. It would seem to
have been a place of storage for partly worked material of this kind,
to preserve it from the hardening effect of long exposure to the air.
Several
other mounds yielded little of importance, save that from the soil on
the site of No. 1, which had been obliterated, were taken a number of
fragments of bone, curiously ornamented with finely carved patterns.
Two others, Nos. 4 and 5, had peculiarly constructed altars, of which
an extended account is given.
The
first discovery of pearls by Squier and Davis was made in their mound
No. 9, now obliterated by a railroad. With the pearls, they
