Generally,  they  are  high,  yet  in  some  instances  thej'  are  elevated
a  few  feet  only,  while  covering  many  acres  of  ground.  Another
feature  is,  they  are  almost  Liniformly  smTounded  by  embankments
and  ditches.  In  some  instances,  also,  they  are  terraced,  having
successive  stages.  But,  whatever  their  form,  they  invariably  have
flat  or  level  tops,  which  were  probably  crowned  with  temples,  but,
being  composed  of  perishable  material,  all  traces  of  them  have
long  since  disappeared  from  view.  The  opinion  is  entertained,
too,  by  some  careful  observers,  that  these  temple  mounds  were
frequently  used  for  sepulchral  piu'poses,  and  many  instances  are
cited  where  vast  quantities  of  hmuan  skeletons  have  been  found,
"  The  Grave  Creek  Mound,  which  is  in  the  form  of  a  tnincated
cone — the  flattened  area  on  the  top  being  fifty  feet  in  diameter,
and  therefore  coming  under  the  classification  of  temple  mounds
— was  found  to  inclose  two  vaults,  originally  constructed  of  wood,
which  contained  human  skeletons."*

"  The  truncated  pyramid,''  says  the  same  writer,  "  is  among  the
strongest  links  in  the  chain  which  connects  the  ancient  inhabit-
ants of  the  Mississippi  Valley  with  those  of  Mexico  and  Central
America.  In  the  rude  earth-works  we  see  the  germ  of  the  idea
which  was  subsequently  wi'ought  out  in  proportions  of  beauty
and  harmony,  giving  origin  to  a  unique  style  of  architecture,"

SEPULCHRAL    MOUNDS,

Descriptively,  these  generally  consist  of  a  simple  knoll  or
group  of  knolls,  of  no  considerable  height,  without  an}'  definite
arrangement,  "  Examples  of  this  chai'acter  may  be  seen  at  Du-
bu(jue,  Merom,  Chicago  and  La  Porte,  which,  on  exploration,  have
yielded  skulls  differing  widely  from  the  Indian  type.  It  often
happens  that,  in  close  proximity  to  a  large  structure,  there  is  an
inconsiderable  one,  which  will  be  found  rich  in  relics."  In  shape,
they  are  usually  conical,  but  frequently  are  elliptical  or  pear-
shaped,  from  six  feet  to  eighty  in  height,  averaging  from  fifteen
to  twenty-five  feet  in  altitude,  and  ai'e  situated  outside  the  walls
of  inclosues,  at  distances  more  or  less  remote.  As  a  rule,  when
•I  numl)er  of  these  mounds  are  found  connected,  one  of  the  gi'oup


HISTORY  OF  CARROLL  COUNTY.
