American Antiquities: Corroborative of the Book of Mormon (15 January 1859)

(From Morse’s “Universal Geography.”)

“In digging a well in Cincinnati, the stump of a tree was found in a sound state, 90 feet below the surface; and in digging another well at the same place, another stump was found at 94 feet below the sur­face, which had evident marks of the axe; and on its top there appeared as if some iron tool had been consumed by rust.”

(From an American paper.)

“Mr. Butterfield, who is running a tunnel in Table Mountain, near Sonora, California, has given the editor of the San Francisco Herald a description of a discovery made by his company in the course of their excava­tions. They have got their tunnel in a dis­tance of 300 feet. Here, 110 feet from the surface of the ground, they found the trunk of a pine tree, 22 inches in diameter, in a good state of preservation and with its bark on. The sap appeared to be in a partial state of petrifaction, and the outside was charred, giving unmistakeable evidence of fire at some period.”

(From the Nevada Journal.)

"In the shaft of J. L. Duncan and Co., on the ridge between the Middle and South Yubas, in this county, at the distance of 176 feet below the surface of the ground, was found, on the 26th of December, a curiously-fashioned glass bottle or jar, which was dug up in hard cement. After removing the reddish coating, an eighth of an inch thick, which attached to the outside, and thoroughly washing it, it was found to be of a light colour and perfectly transparent. It some­what resembled a small-sized pickle-jar, but has a longer neck and a flat bottom. It must have been lying in the silent spot where it was found for many hundred years.”

(From an American paper.)

"The editor of the Marysville Express has been shown some pieces of bark taken from a cedar tree about 16 inches in dia­meter, which tree was struck in a tunnel at Monte Cristo, six miles from Downie­ville, at a distance of 980 feet from the upper surface. There were 20 of these trees lying along within a few feet of each other, and imbedded from one foot to two-and-a-half feet above the bed rock. The earth around them had formed a sort of cement almost the consistency of rock. Both above and below the trees was found pay dirt. The wood appeared natural, but was rather soft. When and how they came there is a question for naturalists to solve.”

(From the Exchange.)

"While engaged in excavating recently upon the Milwaukie and La Crosse Railroad, near Schlesengerville, Iowa, the workmen came upon the petrified remains of an Indian, and with the remains some singular relics of olden times. The body was perfect, not having suffered by decay. His height at the present time would be considered gigantic, measuring seven feet, two inches. On his breast was a plate of copper, on which were engraved numerous hieroglyphics, the mean­ing of which can hardly be imagined. But there they are, a record of the past. Could these hieroglyphics be read, they might per­haps unravel some of the mystery which hangs like a dark cloud over the history of the red man. An arrow of considerable length and curious construction was also found with him, and especially invites the attention of antiquarians.”

(From the Burlington [Iowa] Gazette.)

"While some workmen were engaged in excavating for the cellar of Governor Grimes' new building, on the corner of Main and Valley streets, they came upon an arched vault 10 feet square, which on being opened was found to contain eight human skeletons of gigantic proportions. The walls of the vault were about 14 inches thick, well laid with cement or indestructible mortar. The vault is about six feet deep from the base to the arch. The skeletons are in a good state of preservation, and are the largest human remains ever found, being a little over eight feet long.”

(From the St. Louis Weekly Union, Dec. 29, 1849. Extracted from the Picayune.)

"Several specimens of American anti­quities have recently arrived in this city. They were discovered by an American traveller whilst exploring the country of the Sierra Madre, near San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and excavated from the ruins of an ancient city, the existence of which is wholly unknown to the present inhabitants, either by tradition or history. They comprise two idols and a sacrificial basin, hewn from solid blocks of concrete sandstone, and are now in a most perfect state of preservation …The sacrificial basin measures two feet in diameter, and displays much skill and truth in the workmanship. It is held by two serpents entwined, with their heads re­versed,—the symbol of eternity, which enters largely into the mythology of the ancient Egyptians.”

(From the Lake Superior Journal, Sept. 25, 1850.)

“We have been shown by Charles Whit­tlesey, Esq., of the Ontonagon Mine, a copper arrow-head, and a piece of human skull and other bones, which have lately been found in the ancient Indian excavations on the Ontonagon River. The arrow-head is now about two inches in length, and seems to have had originally a socket, though but part of it remains. Several chisels, or in­struments resembling chisels, having sockets like the common carpenter’s chisel, and small gads or wedges, have also been found at the Minnesota Mine. But the greatest curiosity we have seen in the way of these articles is a stick of oak timber lately taken the of one of the ancient pits or shafts at out Minnesota Mine, 27 feet below the sur­face. It is a small tree, about 10 feet in length and eight or ten inches in diameter, haring short limbs two feet apart, and at nearly right angles with one another; and on this account, and from its standing nearly upright, it is supposed to have been used as a ladder by the ancient miners. In this shaft and around and over this stick were rocks and earth, and large trees were grow­ing over it. Many centuries must have elapsed since that ancient ladder was placed there.”

(From the Lake Superior Mining News, Dec. 21,1854.)

“We have now in our possession, for safe keeping, and as a nucleus of a collec­tion of curiosities, some very curious and singular articles made of copper. They were found near the west shore of the river, about a mile above the mouth, at a place where now is a brick-yard; and these were disinterred by those digging in search of good brick clay. After taking off from the surface of the ground about two feet of sand, the clay was exposed and the stump of a tree was discovered. Digging still lower about six or seven inches into the clay, and overturning the stump, these articles were brought to light:—First, a copper spear, about 14 inches in length; and at its base a groove or dovetail is made, in which to insert a wooden shaft or handle. Two other spears, each about 12 inches in length, and similar to the first. Third, two pieces of copper that had evidently been very nicely forged: but for what purposes they could ever have been applied is by no means plain; and it is quite difficult to give in writing a clear description of them. These are about 14 inches long and two inches wide. Upon one end there is the appearance of an attempt to make a cutting edge. They weigh about three pounds each, and are specimens of good workmanship. That these tools are the work of those who lived here years ago seems the more likely from the place and position in which they were found, being in the strata of clay, lying under the roots of a stump, and about 40 feet above the pre­sent level of the river and lake. The tree had grown tip since these articles had been put there, and the deposit of sand made above the clay the depth of two feet. To do that, the river and lake must have been 40 feet higher than its present level. This, of course, was years ago, before the memory of the present races now inhabiting this country. Together with these tools was found scraps of copper, as though fragments left at the time of the manufacture of the tools."

(From the Wheeling [Va.] Times, Nov. 12, 1853.)

“We had the pleasure of being present and assisting in a partial opening of one of the largest mounds on the Hats of Grave Creek, on Thursday last. The mound is situated on the farm of Mr. Price, some mile or more east of Moundsville, and was partially opened by Mr. Morris and others in 1852. They discovered and got a part of a stone covered with characters, similar to the one found in the large mounds, but of larger size. This portion was sent to an institution at Rich­mond soon after its discovery, and there lost sight of. The smaller stone found in the large mound has not been carefully pre­served; and the existence of it with the singular characters thereon, as a relic of a past age and another people than any with whom the English settlers of this country are acquainted, has been denied by persons who have published voluminous works within the past five years. The object of digging into this mound at this time was to find, if possible, the remainder of the stone, and thus establish the fact rendered certain to the minds of all those who have seen either of those already found,—viz., that the ones who built these mounds had an alphabet, and could by that convey ideas to the minds of absent persons in language. It is well known that the Indians had no such means —no written alphabet. It is true there are other proofs beside these that there was an anterior race who occupied our valleys; and the objects now Been in the valley at the month of Grave Creek lead ns to the conclusion that that valley was once densely populated by an intelligent and warlike people. The proofs are these mounds and the system with which they are made, the fact that in the centre of them are found altars and ashes, ornaments—among which was a copper ring, the brazing of which could neither be cut with file nor diamond— the fact of the remains of forts being found there, laid off with mathematical accuracy, and many other things of the same positive character. In the valley at the mouth of Grave Creek are some 20 mounds and one trace of a fort, while on the west side of the river are two fortifications—one on the plain. These are admirably adapted for the purpose of defence and for observation, and are works for which our Indians had no occasion, and which they never built. There is no more interesting study than that afforded by these evidences of a people that have long since passed away; and we trust it may be pursued by those who have taken an interest in it, until their character is fully determined.”

(To be continued.)