The Mound-Builders

Preface

PREFACE THE MOUND-BUILDERS" is dedicated to the average man and woman who, although fully awake to the human interest in their story, lack time and opportunity for digesting the rather extensive but often unavailable literature on the subject. This volume is intended to afford a belated answer to the oft-heard query, "Where can I find a book that will give me the important facts regarding the Moundbuilders ?" If the professional prehistorian also finds the book a handy compendium of the archreology of the general mound area, its publication will be more than justified. In a sense, the preparation of The Mound-Builders has been a pioneer undertaking, in that it attempts to combine scientific accuracy and popular presentation. Difficulties admittedly have been numerous; but the recent gratifying tendency to popularize science and the encouragement and assistance tendered by the author's coworkers in the field have removed all cause for hesitation. Planning the book with the idea of obtaining something of order and sequence and of sustaining human interest was not the least of the problems involved. Considerable license admittedly has been taken in attempting to effect the desired result. Outside of a few restricted areas the mound-building complex has been only partly analyzed, and therefore it is difficult to compass as a whole. Technical archreological method, with its emphasis on culture groups and areas, with their present lack of definition, proved to be impractical for popular use. "Cultures ," so-called, and "culture areas" are adaptable as working bases, but they defy specific application in a presentation of this character. The scheme of "mound areas" herein employed is the author 's method of meeting the difficulties which impose themv vi PREFACE selves. While these assumed areas have considerable basis of justification, they are not ultimately satisfactory-an admission which emphasizes the need for concerted and exhaustive exploration of the mound area as a whole and the coordination of resultant findings. The author bespeaks the tolerance of his readers, particularly those who, through training and experience, are in a position to note his errors. The scant attention accorded the non-mound-building peoples of the area under consideration may at first thought appear regrettable; but since there is little or nothing in the culture of these which does not appear in that of the so-called Mound-builders, there appears to be no reason for their inclusion in the volume. While the Ohio area is perhaps the best known of the several considered and thus furnishes the nucleus for the book, it would have been impossible of realization without the aid of authorities in the remaining areas and states. The author takes this opportunity of extending grateful acknowledgment and recognition to the following for photographs, data, mound locations , and permission to reproduce illustrations from publications : Miss Margaret E. Ashley, Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass. Dr. S. A. Barrett, Public Museum of the City of Milwaukee Mr. Peter A. Brannon, Alabama Anthropological Society Mr. Calvin A. Brown, University of Mississippi Mr. Charles E. Brown, State Historical Society of Wisconsin Bureau of American Ethnology, Washington Dr. Amos W. Butler, Indianapolis Hon. P. E. Cox, State Archreologist of Tennesssee Dr. Don L. Dickson, Lewistown, Illinois Messrs. E. L. and M. H. Dickson, Lewistown, Illinois Dr. Carl E. Guthe, University of Michigan Dr. W. B. Hinsdale, University of Michigan Dr. Charles R. Keyes, State Historical Society of Iowa Mr. Stewart Kidd, Cincinnati Dr. Wilton M. Krogman, University of Chicago Mr. George Langford, Joliet, Illinois Mr. J. Arthur MacLean, Toledo Museum of Art Mr. W. C. McKern, Public Museum of the City of Milwauke~ Mr. Clarence B. Moore, Philadelphia Dr. Warren K. Moorhead, Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass. PREFACE Prof. William H. Over, University of South Dakota Dr. Arthur C. Parker, Rochester Municipal Museum Mr. F. M. Setzler, Indiana Archreological Survey Dr. John M. Swanton, Bureau of American Ethnology Prof. William S. Webb, University of Kentucky vii Dr. C. C. Willoughby, Peabody Museum, Harvard University Dr. W. J. Wintemberg, National Museum of Canada Members of the Ohio State Museum staff have been umformly helpful; special mention is due the following: Miss Alice Senseney Davis, assistant librarian, for preparing the index; Mr. Howard R. Goodwin, staff artist, for drawings; Dr. Emerson F. Greenman, curator of arch::eology, for aid in compilation, and Mr. H. R. McPherson, business agent, for assistance in compiling data. Mr. Arthur C. Johnson, Sr., president of the Ohio State Arch...