American Antiquities and Researches into the Origin and History of the Red Race

Front matter

AMERICAN ANTIQUITIES AND RESEARCHES INTO THE ORIGIN AND HISTORY or THE RED RACE. AMERICAN ANTIQUITIES AND RESEARCHES INTO THE ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE RED RACE. BY ALEXANDER W. BRADFORD. NEW-YORK : DAYTON AND SAXTON, Corner of Fulton and Nassau-streets. BOSTON: SAXTON AND PIERCE. 1841. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1841, by ALEXANDER W. BRADFORD, i n the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District of New-York. UNIVERSITY PRESS: JOHN F. TROW, PRINTER, 114 NASSAU STREET.

Preface

. Antiquarian writings have so often been exposed to the charge of being replete with improbable conjectures, and conclusions which vanish at the touch of sober reason, that this interesting class of his torical investigations seldom receives the perusal of the plain-think ing portion of the public. It was but just, therefore, to the subject of this work, to draw a line of distinction between facts, and the reasoning of the author upon those facts. For this reason, in the first por tion of this volume, with but tew exceptions, I have strictly confined myself to a description of the ancient American monuments, pursuing, in as faithful a manner as was consistent with proper brevity, the lan guage of my authorities ; and thus affording to the reader an oppor tunity to frame his own conclusions, and to test the accuracy of mine.

Mr. Stephens' travels in Central America were published so recently, that I have been unable to use them with advantage ; but they have been so extensively read, that this deficiency is of the less moment. In the second part of this work an attempt is made to solve some interesting problems of ancient aboriginal history. These involve topics of so diversified a character, are so extensive in their bearings, and are predicated upon so many and various proofs, that in many cases it was found incompatible with my proposed limits, to do more than illustrate the several propositions by a portion of the testimo nies. Many of them may therefore be considered as brief statements necessary to the chain of argument, and as capable of further proof. As to the conclusions which have been attained no one can be more alive than myself to the fact, that in many cases they are opposed to

PREFACE.

. the usually received opinions upon these subjects. In relation to the question of origin, no predisposition in favor of the reSult to which I have arrived, has influenced the investigation ; for, biased at the out set strongly towards the theory of a migration by Behring's straits, it was only at a later stage of the examination, and after a long strug gle, that I was forced to abandon this idea ;— with what reason others must determine. After all, the inquiry, by what route the aborigines reached our shores, is one of minor importance. It is a fact upon which little depends ; in view of the extensive diffusion of the Red race over the eastern hemisphere, it cannot be of much consequence, whether they came across the Atlantic, or the southern or northern Pacific. In either case, by other proofs their antiquity is not less certain ; the primitive character of their institutions and civilization is not the less demonstrable; and at the most, it could affect only some problems connected with their internal history.

Few can be more sensible than myself of the imperfections of this work, or feel more its defects in point of research. Having had no opportunity of consulting several scarce authorities, I am aware that more light might have been thrown upon many of the points it dis cusses. My chief consolation has been, that even the humblest con tributions to so interesting and noble a theme would be received with kindness. Just criticism, however, is essential to the elucidation of truth, and is to be deprecated least of all upon topics still deeply en enveloped in mystery and doubt. CONTENTS. Page Introduction, 9

Introduction

. The term History, in its usual acceptation, is somewhat restricted in its scope and application. If its extent were strictly limited to authentic narratives and records, such have teen the results of time, of accidents, and of barbarian violence, that only a small portion of the human race has preserved any very ancient written memorials ; and, with the exception of the historical facts contained in the Sacred Volume, we should be left in ignorance of the most important occurrences of the early ages of the world. Thus of necessity are mankind impelled, in the gratification of a laudable curiosity, to examine other chan nels by which the events of remote antiquity may have been transmitted, and to study and compare the languages, customs, traditions, science, religion and monuments of nations.

It is true, researches of this character do not always afford certain and definite conclusions; but frequently this arises from the method of conducting the argument, or from the insufficiency of the data, and not necessarily from the essential nature of the testimony. And even when sound conclusions cannot be attained, the interest of the subject compensates, in some degree, for the want of success ; for these studies lead directly

INTRODUCTION.

. into the investigation of the greatest problems of human his tory — the origin, affiliation, and migrations of nations, the progress of society, civilization, knowledge and religion. And if "the development of the human race is history," where is that development more clearly exhibited, than in the monuments, and in the civil and religious institutions of mankind ? The character of a people is to be read in their architectural productions, — their dwellings unfold their domestic manners, and often the relative condition of different classes in society, — the monuments erected to the memory of the illustrious dead disclose those traits of humanity held in esteem and honor, — the cemeteries tend to exhibit their belief as to a future existence, and the temples and places of worship to denote their religious ideas.

Monumental antiquities perpetuate also epochs and occurrences, as well as national characteristics. Truth-telling remnants, which have escaped the ship wreck of time, or rather the organic remains of history, they often indicate those great changes and convulsions which have occurred, as well in the social as in the physical world, and expose in outline the leading events of primeval ages. Tradition and mythology are no less valuable aids in the elucidation of ancient history. Though , when isolated, of doubtful authority, in combination they cement and perfect an historical fabric, the parts of which, incomplete of themselves, are harmonized and strengthened by union. It is known that the mythological systems of the ancients were but the expression of certain religious ideas, sometimes interwoven with cos mogonical philosophy, or were descriptive of real events trans formed into theological fables. In these, and in traditions whereof some are as old as the deluge, should we search for

INTRODUCTION.

. 11 the relics of the history of knowledge and civilization, to extri cate them from the mass of folly and superstition in which they are enshrouded. The ore lies deep, but not beyond reach ; and though, from the very nature of things, success cannot be imme diate, the difficulties to be encountered are such as more exten sive research may hereafter overcome. Nor should the inestimable worth of the results of such inquiries, when successful, be forgotten during the process of investigation. The details, often perhaps dry and wearisome, are still necessary steps in the progress towards a just conclu sion, and should be borne with patiently, as a portion of that burden which knowledge always imposes upon those engaged in her pursuit. Their gradual and successive development is just as essential, to the solution of these interesting questions, as were the slow, minute and laborious calculations of mathemati cians, to the discovery of the sublime truths of astronomy.

Like the base of some ancient column, covered with fallen fragments almost defying the efforts of the explorer to restore it to its former light and glory, primitive history is hidden deep amid the gloom of time and the crumbling ruins of antiquity, to be revealed only by patient inquiry and unwearied zeal. These remarks are peculiarly applicable to the elucidation of American Aboriginal History, by means of the traditions, monuments and institutions of its native inhabitants. Investi gations of this character, always involving subjects of rational curiosity, replete with useful instruction, and of great moral and historical moment, rise in value and dignity when appertaining to the whole aboriginal population of a vast continent, probably untrodden by any other race of human beings, until a period comparatively recent in the annals of the world. And yet they

INTRODUCTION.

. unfold a page in history possessing no startling dramatic inter est, adorned with none of the glare and tinsel of the eccentrici ties of genius, unemblazoned with the achievements of ambition, and diversified with none of the thrilling incidents of personal adventure ; but they rather appeal to the unbeguiled judgment of the reason by their intrinsic worth, as the only method, in the absence of higher testimony, of obtaining any just deduc tions, as restoring the lost and broken link of ancient connection between the old and new worlds, and as tending to perfect that chain, by which all mankind are traced to one head and bound together by the ties of a common origin. It is with deep impressions of this nature, that the future exploration of Ameri can antiquities should be urged ; for we are as yet but upon the threshold, and though sufficient has already been unveiled for some rational conclusions, the cause of philosophy and know ledge demands a more accurate, thorough and extensive exam ination of monuments that are fast yielding to the despoiling hand of man and the attacks of time.

From the vague and often exaggerated descriptions of some of the early travellers, and from the conduct of the conquerors of the semi-civilized nations of Mexico, Central America, Bogota and Peru, information of incalculable value has been lost to us. It is impos sible without the deepest regret and indignation to revert to that period, when ancient pictorial manuscripts were burned, idols, images and planispheres destroyed or buried in the earth temples levelled with the ground and cities razed — all from the lowest motives of policy, or from the blind zeal of superstition. A frightful chasm has thus been made in the primitive history of this continent, irremediable if we contemplate merely the immense number of Mexican picture-writings that were wick-

INTRODUCTION.

. 13 edly destroyed. It is possible, however, yet to remedy in a great measure the evil, so far as occasioned by this wanton demolition of architectural and monumental structures, by a careful examination of those which have escaped the violence of the Spanish conquest; and the subject is one eminently worthy of American enterprise. — To embody and collate the descriptions of the most remarkable of the ancient remains and ruins scattered over the continent ; to compare the traditions, manners, customs, arts, language, civilization and religion of its aboriginal inhabitants, internally, and with those of other nations ; and thence to deduce the origin of the American race and its subsequent migrations, — in a word, to attempt the deter mination of a portion of its unwritten history, is the object of this work ; and if, in any event, it shall serve to stimulate curi osity and inquiry upon this interesting subject, at least one important purpose will have been accomplished.

PART I

, AMERICAN ANTIQUITIES.

Chapter I. Indian Antiquities

The ancient remains of art existing in America may be divided into two great classes, differing in style, character and importance. The first class comprehends those of more recent origin, which have manifestly proceeded from an uncivilized people, and which may be traced throughout the whole extent of the continent. They possess the same uniformity of charac ter, that distinguishes the manners and institutions of all the barbarous Indian tribes, and most of them are doubtless of Indian construction. They consist chiefly of ornaments, rude inscriptions, and paintings not unlike the semi-hieroglyphic symbols at present employed by some of the aboriginal nations, and of such implements of warfare and domestic use, as are adapted to the wants of savage life ; and yet they exhibit indications of that mechanical talent and dexterity which have been observed as a peculiar trait of nearly all the American natives.* * Archæologia Americana, vol. i. pp. 112, 113, 114.—Bracken ridge's Journal, p. 153.

Specimens of aboriginal art and ingenuity are being con tinually disinterred, in the progress of the cultivation of newly occupied lands, and they vary but slightly from those fabricated by the present tribes, evincing no evidences of a superior state of society. Their proximity to the surface of the earth affords one clue to distinguish them from such as can boast of a higher antiquity, which are usually found some distance beneath the soil. The domestic utensils, flint arrow-heads, stone ornaments, pipes, chisels, knives and tomahawks thus brought to light sel dom surpass, in workmanship and design, those of acknowledged Indian ■ manufacture, and of more modern date. An inferior kind of earthenware is of very usual occurrence, but its composition is more rude, and its execution less finished than those of the ancient pottery, while it does not excel such as the Indians have been accustomed to construct.* There are no indications of any military or architectural structures, exhibiting much art, which can be clearly assigned to the present tribes.f Some fortifications and intrenchments have been ascribed to them, but merely by conjecture ; and their dwellings are usually formed of the most fragile materials.

The Esquimaux afford, however, an exception in the latter particular ; for the remains of their habitations are frequently to be observed in small rude circles of rough stones, and trenched divisions of ground in a circular form.J Their method of con- * Drake's Picture of Cincinnati, p. 200. — Charlevoix's Voyage vol. ii. p. 93. — " The nations of the south had only vessels of baked earth to dress their meat." Charlevoix, ibid. | Description of Ohio, Louisiana, &c, p. 172.— Pike's Expedition p. 56. X Back's Narrative, p. 253.— Parry's Second Voyage, p. 15. structing their huts is also worthy of notice. They are built with blocks of snow, in the shape of a dome, each block being cut with great regularity and art, into the shape requisite to form a substantial arch, and having no support whatever but what this principle supplies.* It may be remarked, also, that the Esquimaux are accustomed to place stones and slabs in an upright position, in every conspicuous spot, some of which have been compared to obelisks.

Similar monuments have been observed in other districts of the continent ; but they are all unhewn, extremely rude, and bear no inscriptions.! Many of the tumuli formed of earth, and occasionally of stones, are of Indian origin, and they may generally be distin guished by their inferior dimensions, and isolated situations. They are mostly sepulchral mounds : either the general ceme tery of a village or tribe ; funeral monuments over the grave of an illustrious chief, or upon a battle-field, commemorating the event and entombing the fallen; or the result of a custom, prevalent among some of the tribes, of collecting at stated in tervals the bones of the dead, and interring them in a common repository. A mound of the latter description was formerly situated on the low grounds of the Rivanna river, in Virginia, opposite the site of an old Indian village.;).

It was forty feet in diameter and twelve in height, of a spheroidal form, and sur rounded by a trench, whence the earth employed in its erection had been excavated. The circumstances indicating the custom alluded to, were the great number of skeletons, their confused position, their situation in distinct strata exhibiting different * Parry's Second Voyage, p. 34. f Back's Narrative, p. 273. — Hodgson's Travels, vol. ii. App. p. 434. X Jefferson's Notes on Virginia, pp. 100, 103. stages of decomposition, and the appearance of the bones of infants. A mound of similar character, and constructed in layers or strata at successive periods, existed near the south branch of the Shenandoah, in the same state. There are other tumuli ascribed to the Indians, consisting of stones thrown rudely together, but they are less frequent than those formed of earth.

One of these, upon the Blue Ridge, upon being opened was found to contain human bones ; and another, in New York, is said to have marked the grave of a distinguished warrior.* The size of all of them is not invariably diminutive, as we are informed that Fort Watson, in South Carolina, was built upon the summit of one upwards of thirty feet in height ;f and, according to an authentic report, a mound of the largest dimensions has been thrown up within a few years, in Illinois, over the remains of an eminent chief.J So materially have the customs and institutions of the In dians been changed since the discovery, that most of these tumuli are of considerable age, and it has even been doubted, whether they were constructed by the immediate ancestors of the present Indians ; but it appears, from a very respectable authority, that many tribes still continue to this day to raise a tumulus over the grave, the magnitude of which is proportioned to the rank and celebrity of the deceased.^ We find these mounds scattered at intervals over the surface of both Americas, from the country of * Macauley's History of New York, vol. ii. p. 239. t Ramsay's History of the United States, vol. ii. p. 34.

X Beck's Gazetteer, p. 308. § James, vol. ii. p. 1.— Description of the Red River, p. 152. Brackenridge's View of Louisiana, p. 137. the Esquimaux to that of the Fuegians ;* and though neither by their size nor their contents, do they impress us with a high opinion of the civilization of their authors, still they shed some light upon their ancient history. If the Indians are the branches and descendants of a more civilized people, and have retrograded from a higher condition of society — an opinion supported by many curious facts — we may expect to find the greatest differ ences between them, and their more civilized ancestors, in such circumstances as are always affected by a change in mode of life ; and to discover the strongest signs of affinity, if any, in religious belief, and in such customs as are arbitrary, and not the spontaneous and natural growth of a particular state of society.

Accordingly we can trace a few such resemblances in their productions of art, and in their domestic manners ; but the moment we contemplate their religion, and, above all, their method of disposing of the dead and their sepulchral monuments, a great and striking uniformity is exhibited. Reverence for the dead, though it be a feeling common to all mankind, and natural to the human heart, is a most marked and distinguishing trait in the character of the members of the Red race — not however as a sentiment, but as a religious and mystic feeling, springing less from the kindly affections of the soul, than from a superstitious impression, deeply imprinted in the very elements of their character. Even among such barbarous native tribes, as possess the lowest estimate of social virtues and duties, and as are char acterized by the most savage indifference and selfishness in all the near and tender relations of life, the moment the spirit has left the body, a new chord seems to be struck in the hearts of * Parry's Voyages. — Silliman. the survivors, and those, who were neglected and perhaps hated when living, are venerated in death ; and thus monuments have been reared over the bones of the departed, which, when alive and in the full tide of successful power and commanding influence, they could not have extorted as tributes of respect or obedience.

Amid the barren waste of Indian apathy, here is a green spot whereon to rest the eye — a singular exception to that impenetrable, obdurate stoicism, possessed by them, in com mon with the more cultivated nations of the same race. Herein we perceive the reason, why the tumuli are the only monuments of the Indians ; for with this religious feeling, as transmitted to them from their forefathers, they have also preserved the custom of erecting sepulchral mounds. In this view, these rude monuments are of important consideration ; for, appearing alike, among the remains of art, and in the seats of the ancient civil ized nations, and in remote regions whither civilization never penetrated, they develope one of the arguments tending to establish the common origin of all the American aborigines, whether barbarous or cultivated.

Chapter II. Ancient Remains In The United States

The next, and perhaps the only legitimate class of American antiquities, affords unquestionable proofs of an origin from na tions of great cultivation. Though all of them are assimilated by many striking general resemblances, still their local position and some characteristic differences suggest a ternary division, into such as have been discovered, 1st, within the territory of the United States ; 2d, in Central America, Mexico and the adjoining provinces ; and 3d, in Peru and other parts of South America. 1. The ancient remains of the United States bear evident marks of being the production of a people, elevated far above the savage state. Many of them indicate great elegance of taste, and a high degree of dexterous workmanship and me chanical skill, in their construction ; others betoken the exist ence of a decided form of religious worship ; while the size and extent of the earthen fortifications and mounds demonstrate the former existence of populous nations, capable of executing works of enormous dimensions, requiring perseverance, time and combination of labor for their erection.

A detail of these vestiges of that vast population, which once occupied the richest agricultural portion of our country, though minute and circumstantial, cannot be devoid of interest; and in any event these relics demand attention, as the monuments of an ancient and perhaps enlightened species of the human race, whence, in the absence of clearer testimony, we must endeavor to gather materials for their history. The first class of these antiquities is composed of articles of mechanical workmanship, which have most frequently been discovered within the graves, mounds, and mural remains; and of other objects, of a miscellaneous character. The art of pottery is one of very early invention, as fragments of earthenware are found among the oldest ruins of the world. Its productions, though fragile, have withstood the effects of time more durably than the most massive structures, and specimens still exist entire, coeval in date with the remotest periods of civilization.

Those found in the United States, of ancient construction, are of different qualities and dimensions — some, by estimate from fragments, having been of large capacity* The chalk banks below the mouth of the Ohio river have contained several of great merit in execution, and a pitcher, which has been discovered there, is said to resemble the Scyphus of the ancients.f Its model was the bottle-gourd ; the neck is moulded in imitation of that of a woman with clubbed hair ; the outlet resembles a distorted human mouth; and the whole vessel, though formed by the hand, is modelled with great nicety and precision.J An earthen vessel found at Nashville, Tennessee, twenty feet below the surface, is described as being circular, with a flat bottom rounding upwards, and terminating at the summit in the figure of a female head.

The features of the face are * Flint's Recollections, p. 166, t Ibid, pp. 173, 174. X Archæologia Americana, vol. i. p. 214. Asiatic, the head is covered by a conical cap, and the ears a're large, extending as low as the chin. The most curious speci men of pottery is that denominated the Triune-vessel, which was disinterred from the earth, near an ancient work upon the Cumberland river.* It consists of three heads, joined together at the back, near the top, by a hollow stem or bottle. The heads are of the same dimensions, and represent very accurately three different countenances, two appearing young and the other old. The faces are partly painted with red and yellow, the colors still preserving great brilliancy. The features are distinguished by thick lips, high cheek-bones, the absence of a beard, and the pointed shape of the head.

An idols discovered in a tumulus at Nashville presents the figure of a man without arms, and the nose and chin mutilated. The head is covered with a fillet and cake, and the hair is plaited : — The composition is of fine clay mixed with gypsum. Colored medalsj representing the sun with its rays, other idols of various forms, and urns containing calcined human bones, some modelled after the most elegant and graceful patterns, have been found in the mounds. The fragments of earthenware, discovered at great depths near the western salt-works, are often of immense size. A large vessel, of coarse description, has been found there, eighty feet below the surface, of capacity to hold ten gallons ; while others have been excavated at greater depths, and of larger dimensions. Within a mound lately opened at Lancaster, in Ohio, upon a furnace disposed at the level of the earth, there rested the largest ancient vessel yet discovered.

It was eighteen feet long, six * Archæologia Americana, vol. i. p. 23S. f Ibid. vol. i. p. 211. X Ibid. vol. i. p. 243. broad, composed of clay and broken shells, and moulded on both sides with much smoothness.* These articles of pottery vary much in their structure. The material is either simply clay — that substance united with pul verized sandstone or calcareous matter — or a composition, as well calculated, as our chemical vessels, to encounter a high degree of heat, and formed upon scientific principles.*!* Some of them appear to have been painted before burning, are skil fully wrought and polished, well glazed and burned, and are inferior to our own manufactures in no respect. There exist other specimens, of ancient origin, corroborating this view of the chemical knowledge of their authors.

At Hamburg, in the state of New York, within an urn in the interior of a mound, curious beads have been found deposited, consisting of transparent green glass, covered with an opaque red enamel, beneath which and in the tube of the bead was a beautiful white enamel, indicative of great art in its formation.J On opening an old grave at Big River, in the state of Missouri, whose antiquity was sufficiently attested by a heavy growth of forest trees over the spot, beads of similar shape, appearance and composition have also been brought to light.§ The bricks discovered in the mounds appear to have been formed after the modern method, and are well burnt; those found in the ancient fortifications are of similar construction and appearance, with the exception of possessing a lighter color. * Trans.

Fairfield Co. Med. Soc. t Schoolcraft's Mississippi, p. 202. X Schoolcraft's View of the Mines and Minerals of the West, &c. p. 280. § Ibid. pp. 169, 283.-Beck's Gazetteer, p. 261. The art of working in stone, and other hard substances, was carried to a considerable degree of perfection by this people ; and beads of bone and shell, carved bones, and hewn and sculptured stones are by no means rare. Their weapons and implements were often formed from the oldest and hardest of rocks ; and arrow-heads, axes and hatchets of granite, and horn blende, nicely cut and polished, are of frequent occurrence. The covers of some of the urns are composed of calcareous breccia, skilfully wrought ;* the pieces of stone worn as ornaments, and found interred with the dead, have been drilled and worked into precise shapes, and the pipe-bowls are adorned with beautifully carved reliefs.*}* An idol of stone, representing the human features, has been found at Natchez, the sculptured head and beak of a rapacious bird in a mound at Cincinnati, and an owl carved in stone at Columbus, Ohio.

The most sin gular of these sculptures has been discovered on the banks of the Mississippi, near St. Louis. This is a tabular mass of limestone bearing the impression of two human feet. The rock is a com pact limestone of grayish-blue color, containing the encrinite, echinite, and other fossils. The feet are quite flattened, but the muscular marks are delineated with great precision. Immedi ately before the feet lies a scroll, sculptured in a similar style.J The opinion sometimes entertained, that these are actual impressions of the human feet, made upon a soft substance subsequently indurated, is incorrect; on the contrary, they are undoubtedly the result of art, and exhibit an extraordi- * Archæologia Americana, vol. i. p. 227. f Ibid. vol. i. p. 230. t Schoolcrati. nary analogy with similar appearances in Asia and in Central America.* Ancient inscriptions upon rocks have also been observed.

Dr. Barton examined some, on a large stratum of rock upon the east shore of the Ohio, about fifty miles below Pittsburg, and found them in great numbers, and apparently " the work of a people acquainted with the use of iron instruments, or with hardened metallic instruments of some kind."f Upon one of the branches of the Tennessee river are per pendicular rocks, on which, more than one hundred feet above the present high-water mark, are representations of beasts, birds, and other figures.J Near the confluence of the Elk and Kenhawa rivers, in the western part of Virginia, Bishop Madison observed some remarkable remains of sculpture. Upon the surface of a rock of freestone lying on the margin of the river, about twelve feet in length and nine in breadth, he saw the outlines of several figures, cut without relief, except in one instance, and somewhat larger than the life.