Butler County, Ohio - Chapter 10: Civilization, 1879

Growth - Agriculture - System - Maize - Tobacco - Potato - Government - Priesthood - Subjection of the 3f asses - Religion - Sun Worship - Serpent Worship - Idolatry - Idol from Illinois - Idols in Tennessee - Amusement - Military.

All the cultured nations had their eras of barbarism and semi-civilization before they entered upon their career of prosperity and refinement. It is possible that the Mound Builders grew out of a state of savageism. When they left the valley of the Ohio they were no longer barbarians, but were making rapid strides towards a higher state of existence. As to their exact condition, we may never be able to unravel it. We can approximate, but to tell their actual position or condition in life is beyond the grasp of human attainment.

Agriculture. - If no other proof existed save that of the size and number of the mounds, it would be sufficient to establish the fact that the Mound Builders were, to a certain extent, tillers of the soil. The earth-works not only indicate that an immense amount of labor was expended upon them, but also required time, and the efforts of a vast multitude of men. As has already been stated, a people subsisting solely or priucipally by the chase, could not have erected these structures. It has been estimated that in the hunter state it requires fifty thousand acres for the su])port of one hunter, and as there are twenty-five million four hundred and forty-six thousand seven hundred and seven acres in Ohio, we then could have, upon the above estimate, but five hundredand nine able-bodied men^ supported alone by the flesh of wild beasts in Oliio. Even the Indians were forced to partially support themselves by the cultivation of maize, and in order to secure enough game were compelled to hunt in Kentucky, and yet their numbers were by no means great. During the period of occupancy by the Mound Builders, there were certainly districts densely populated, as indicated by the remains, which do away entirely with the idea of dependence upon the chase, and prove that they subsisted upon the products of the soil. In order to have supported a large population, the soil must have been cultivated in a methodical manner. Their system of agriculture must have been very complete in order to have sustained so large a population. These monuments arose slowly, and untold multitudes constantly toiled upon them. In order to have supported the laborers there must have been plenty of cheap food, which in a well-populated district could only be produced by skilled labor. Their chief subsistence was undoubtedly maize, and their settlements were located within the area best adapted to its cultivation. No other plant was better adapted to their use, for it is highly prolific, easily cultivated, and the product of a single acre is sufficient to sustain, for an entire year, about two hundred able-bodied men. They cultivated other grain, and the tobacco plant, and such fibrous plants as could be used for making cloth. Their numerous pipes attest that they Avere inveterate smokers, from which we may conclude that tobacco was cultivated with great care and raised in abundance. As the potato and tomato are indigenous to America, it is more than probable that their great value was known, and hence large fields devoted to their culture.

Government. - It would be an easy matter to assume that the government of this people was not unlike that of the ancient Mexicans. ]n this we might not be altogether justified. If the Mound Builders had a more ancient origin than the Mexicans, then some advancement must be allowed for the latter. It would be more safe, how^ever, to judge simply by the remi.:ns, for the present, and then, if an intimate relation can be established between the two, it would necessarily follow that their methods of government were similar. Every indication shows that it was largely a government of the priesthood, and, as history teaches us, such a government is one not to boast of. Where the priesthood rules, oppression prevails. The people have no voice, and must obey in mute silence. Such a government is only content with the complete subjection of the masses, which results in personal servitude, and an abnegation of all political and personal rights. It can not be said that the Mound Builders were entirely ruled by the priests, but undoubtedly to a very great extent. There were probably very powerful rulers, or chieftains, who had a voice with the priesthood, and who together controlled the masses, and had supervision over their labor. The numerous works of this people, and the useless but gigantic tumuli, give evidence that they were not free men, but in a condition of servitude. These men, by stupendous labor, with rude implements, would not have erected, of their own accord, the Grave Creek and other mounds simply to gratify a ruler who wished to perjietuate his name.

This government apportioned the work among the masses and selected the avocation for each and every one. It implies a complex system, and one showing rare judgment in order to keep the masses doAvn. While a portion were engaged in toiling on the earth-works, others provided for them the necessaries of life, and all things worked together that the government of the priesthood might be perpetuated. It is possible that the lands, buildings, etc., all belonged to the rulers.

In such a condition of affairs a redress of grievances is scarely possible. In all conditions and stages of society there must at least be a pretence to right the wrongs of the people, and hence it may necessarily follow that some of their enclosures, called sacred, were used for council-houses, as places for adjudicating.

tuted one nation or empire. It is probable that they had separate governments, for the different settlements, although alike, yet an interchange of priests preserved them, in one sense, as a compact nation.

Bcliglon. - Among nearly all tribes, hoAvever degraded they may be, there is a recognition of an invisible, controlling power. The object of worship, from a low form, ultimately becomes an Invisible, Spiritual Presence. Among the ancient inhabitants of Central America and Mexico the worship of the sun was practiced, as well as among other nations of antiquity. It is not improbable that the Mound Builders erected their great temple mounds to the worship of the sun, moon and stars. Upon these mounds were erected other structures made of wood, and in them the perjjctual fires burned by day and by night. If the so-called altar-mounds were places of sacrifice, then more light is thrown upon this subject, and in imagination we may behold strange and revolting rites. Upon these altars, then, were offered up their most precious ornaments, and the most skillful works of their hands. INo gift was too costly, none too highly esteemed. Their most elaborately carved pipes, their garments woven with patient toil, their precious materials brought from long distances, were freely offered to appease the wrath of their deities. Nor is this all. Around those altars the priesthood assembled, and with strange songs, marched in solemn procession, while one or more of their numbers offered up a human being as a sacrifice. Not one, but many of their OAvn nation, or some poor victims taken in war, were condemned. at once to pour out their blood in obedience to the forms of a superstitious and sanguinary religion.

Among a few archaeologists it is maintained that the serpent was M'orshiped, and as evidence of this fact there may be cited the Great Serpent Mound in Adams County, figures of the reptile on tablets, etc. It has been farther claimed that a j)()rtion of tlie walls of Fort Ancient bears a resemblance to the serj)ent. This is the wall forming the lower enclosure, and made after the form of two serpents. Their heads are represented by the two mounds which cover the entrance into the narrow enclosure that connects the two grand divisions of the fort. These serpents are ap})arently contending with each other, and their bodies bend in and out and rise and fall like two serpents engaged in fighting. At the opposite end from the heads the walls taper down until the opening or gateway is reached. It may be that these walls were constructed in the form of serpents, but the fact must remain that before and since this discovery was announced no one has been able to detect the form of a serpent. Dr. John Locke wdio gave it the most careful survey, assisted by twelve engineers, was forced to establish one hundred and ninety-six stations in order to complete the survey, which required two days, and yet this careful surveyor, who was well informed on such subjects, failed to notice the serpent symbol. After the "important discovery'^ had been made, a party of gentlemen visited the fort, having in view the serpent symbol, but failed to notice anything unusual in the structure.

It is not here denied that the serpent was worshiped by the Mound Builders, but it is maintained that there is no evidence to that effect. It is a fact that a person may start out with any theory, and soon he will be overwhelmed with proof It might as well be maintained that the Mound Builders worshiped man, the club, and other objects both animate and inanimate. It will soon be discovered that the proof is abundant. If, however, the Mound Builders were connected with the ancient Mexicans, it is probable that their religions were not unlike.

The evidence that they were idolaters, or worshiped graven images, is by no means conclusive. It would appear that if such had been the case, large graven images would have been found in the vicinity of the temple mounds. A few images have been found which have been taken for idols. Jn Union County, Illinois, was found a white porphyry stone, weighing forty pounds, carved into the human form. The image is in a sitting posture, wath the left leg drawn under the body, and the right leg drawn up to the thigh (?), supporting thereon the right hand. The face is finely chiseled,' preserving all its parts and perfect in its anatomical proportions. Its height in the sitting position is thirteen inches, and if the whole body was extended it would measure twenty-live and one-half inches. Dr. Joseph Jones in his " Antiquities of Tennessee ^' gives an account of quite a number having been found in that State. Other writers also describe them, so that images in Tennessee appear to be numerous.

It is manifest that this race was very superstitious, for it must be confessed that the element of superstition entered more into their worship than that of simple devotion. If they had not been pre-eminently a religious or more probably a superstitious race these great structures for purposes of worship never Avould have been erected, and thus serve as monuments for future generations to judge of their servile condition, and their subjection to the fear of their gods, as well as their rulers.

Amusement. - It is doubtful if a people can become so subdued as to be restrained from all amusement. Amusement is almost a necessity ; it is an element in man's nature. If there are those who are strangers to such a sense they are to be pitied, and their condition shunned. However despotic the government of a priesthood may be, and however servile their subjects, yet the attempted banishment of all amusement would be a hazardous experiment. Before the removal of the Creeks to their reservation they had Avhiit were called ^^ Chunk Yards,'^ or rectangular areas occupying the center of the town. At the opposite corners of them stood the ^^Great Winter Council House. '^ Some of these yards are from six hundred to nine hundred feet in length, and of proportionate ^vidth. The area is level and sunk from two to three feet below the lands surrounding it. In the center of this area is a low circuhir mound, in the middle of which stands the ^^ Chunk I\)le," which is a high obelisk, made of wood from tiiirty to forty feet high, on the top of which is fastened some object which serves as a mark to shoot at. This area is designed for a public place of exhibition, for shows, games, etc. Formerly the most barbarous and tragic scenes were enacted within them. Of tiie origin of these structures the Indians know nothing. They were found when the Indians occupied the country, and by them were kept partially in repair. They were, probably, originally used for games, shows, etc. Remains of this class occur near Mount Iloyal, Florida. They are situated upon an eminence overlooking the shores of the lake and command an extensive and charming view. The mound is a conical pyramid forty feet high. From it leads off an avenue, enclosed by two parallel walls, to an artificial pond one-half mile distant.

The discoidal imj^lements spoken of elsewhere were probably used in games which may have been similar to that played in the chunk yards. The game called "chungke'^ is played by two parties, one of which rolls the stone on its edge, in a direct line, a considerable distance towards the middle of the other end of the ground. Each party has a sharpened stick, about eight feet in length, and after they have run a few yards each darts his pole after the stone. When the pole strikes the stone it counts two, and in proportion to the nearness of the poles to the stone one is counted, unless both spears strike at equal distances. They will play this stupid game all day, and stake their ornaments on the result.

Military. - The military skill of these people has been largely considered in their works of defense. But from the character of the people it can hardly be considered that they were warlike. They engaged in war as a matter of necessity and not from choice. This necessity for engaging in war will more properly be considered under the head of '' What Became of Them ?"

From these considerations w^e may be able to judge whether or not they were superior to their Indian successors. When every part is taken into contemplation, their civilization and condition must appear remarkable. That they were a remarkable people of an original civilization there is no room for doubt.