Ohio History Journal

THIS MONUMENT IS OLDER THAN THE GREAT

PYRAMIDS.

BY FELIX J. KOCH.

If you want to set your wits to work over something to which there

may be an infinity of answers, -each based on facts as logical as the

next, and yet each trying to solve a problem of utmost importance to the

historian and the scientist, and of interest to intelligent persons the world

over, just try to figure out how old the little mound in the accompanying

picture may be!

This mound, or tumulus, is one of a number of such monuments on

the outskirts of Cincinnati,-- bringing to that city scientists from all the

world, every year, to open, study the remains; then try to guess when

built and where the builders may have gone.

All manner of theories have been advanced as to the age of these

lost peoples. In one mound in the Buckeye State, remains of a mastodon,

killed by the Moundbuilders' flints, was found, covered by so many layers

of leaf-mold, earth and the like, as to take the age back far beyond that

of the Pyramids. So, again, there are those who have worked out the

astronomical positions of the mounds,-and measuring, then, by decli-

nations in the earth's elliptic since the time of their erection, they put

the age at 150,000 years. So there are other theories, all of which go

back, farther than mind can conceive.

And, meantime, the little tumulus, - which is known as the Newtown

Mound,-- keeps its secret,- and will no doubt remain, to puzzle the

wise men for centuries to come.

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