78 ABORIGINAL MONUMENTS
time of the excavation, and that of the proprietor, published five years thereafter; fourth, that there is no evidence of any mention of the existence of the relic, until a year or upwards after the excavation took place. In view of these circumstances, and of the strong presumptive evidence against the occurrence of any thing of the kind, furnished by the antagonistic character of all the ancient remains of the continent, so far as they are known, it must be admitted that all speculations based upon this relic. are entitled to little consideration. Until it is better authenticated, it should be entirely excluded from a place among the anti- quities of our country. Archeological research, to an emi- nent degree, demands a close and critical attention to the facts upon which it is conducted.*
"There is another alternative respecting the relic under notice which has not yet been remarked. It is possible that the excavator of the mound was himself imposed upon. That similar impositions haye been practiced, under no stronger inducement than the malicious gratification of hoaxing credulous mound-diggers, is well known. A nota- ble example is furnished in the six inscribed copper plates, said to haye been found in a mound near the village of Kinderhook, Pike Co., Ill. Engravings of these and a minute description were published in due time. They were extensively circulated, and there are, doubtless, many well-informed persons, who, to this day, repose a degree of confidence in the pretended discovery. The characters were supposed to bear, in the language of the printed an-
- The stone is no longer in the mound at Grave Creek, but is said to be
in the possession of some person at Richmond, Va. Genuine or otherwise, it was inadequate to make the mound “ pay ;” the excavation proved to be, pecu- niarily, a “bad operation.” The “rotunda” has fallen in, the bolts and bars have vanished, and the gate to the enclosure no longer requires the incantation of a dime to creak a rusty welcome to the curious visitor.
- Sic transit gloria moundi !”
