Choctaw Absorbed the Ohio Mound Builders After Being Defeated by the Algonquin Indians

Choctaw Absorbed the Ohio Mound Builders After Being Defeated by the Algonquin Indians

The Algonquin peoples were of northern origin who didn't migrate into the lower Great Lakes region until after warring with the Ohio and Indiana mound builders.

    Their most constant and most dreaded enemies were the tribes of the Algonquin family, a fierce and restless people, of northern origin, who everywhere surrounded them. At one period, however, if the concurrent traditions of both Iroquois and Algonquins can be believed, these contending races for a time stayed their strife, and united their forces in an alliance against a common and formidable foe. This foe was the nation, or perhaps the confederacy, of the Alligewi or Talligewi, the semi-civilized "Mound-builders" of the Ohio Valley, who have left their name to the Allegheny river and mountains, and whose vast earthworks are still, after half-a-century of study, the perplexity of archaeologists. A desperate warfare ensued, which lasted about a hundred years, and ended in the complete overthrow and destruction, or expulsion, of the Alligewi. The survivors of the conquered people fled southward, and are supposed to have mingled with the tribes which occupied the region extending from the Gulf of Mexico northward to the Tennessee river and the southern spurs of the Alleghenies. Among these tribes, the Choctaws retained, to recent times, the custom of raising huge mounds of earth for religious purposes and for the sites of their habitations, a custom which they perhaps learned from the Alligewi; and the Cherokees are supposed by some to have preserved in their name (Tsalaki) and in their language indications of an origin derived in part from the same people. Their language, which shows, in its grammar and many of its words, clear evidence of affinity with the Iroquois, has drawn the greater portion of its vocabulary from some foreign source. This source is conjectured to have been the speech of the Alligewi. As the Cherokee tongue is evidently a mixed language, it is reasonable to suppose that the Cherokees are a mixed people, and probably, like the English, an amalgamation of conquering and conquered races. [Footnote: This question has been discussed by the writer in a paper on "Indian Migrations as evidenced by Language," read before the American Association for the Advancement of Science, at their Montreal Meeting, in August, 1882, and published in the American Antiquarian for January and April, 1883.]

The time which has elapsed since the overthrow of the Alligewi is variously estimated. The most probable conjecture places it at a period about a thousand years before the present day. It was apparently soon after their expulsion that the tribes of the Huron-Iroquois and the Algonquin stocks scattered themselves over the wide region south of the Great Lakes, thus left open to their occupancy.

Iroquois Burial Mound on the I.P.F.W Campus in Fort Wayne, Indiana

The burial mound is submerged most of the year because the river is dammed. Several years ago an IPFW archaeology student tried to excavate the mound, luckily he was an idiot who tried in the winter when the mound surface if as hard as concrete. 

The History of Allen County, Indiana, 1888:

“Prehistoric Remains” by R. S. Robertson

Still further down the river, on the east side, at the mouth of Breckenridge Creek, is a single mound, which has not been opened except a slight excavation in its side, which developed the customary lumps of charcoal. This point is about four miles north of Ft. Wayne, and is the most southerly point in the county at which mounds and earthworks are known to exist.

Ancient Iroquois Burial Mound in Noble County, Indiana

Ancient Iroquois Burial Mound in Noble County, Indiana

This burial mound is located on Schoolhouse Road in Noble County, Indiana. There was a group of about 8 mounds to the east of this mound.

Iroquois Spirit Stones Discovered at an Ancient Iroquois Burial Mound Site in Noble County, Indiana

Iroquois Spirit Stones Discovered at an Ancient Iroquois Burial Mound Site in Noble County, Indiana

Faces served as Manitou or spirit stones to the Iroquois. This carved face of slate was found in Noble County, Indiana near the site of a circular fort and burial mound on Spear Lake. Another Manitou stone was a boulder with concentric depressions around its circumference.  

This stone with natural sculpturing has the image of a face.  This stone would have been interpreted as being posssessed with spirits and would have been venerated.

The stone was found next this burial mound situated next to a spring.

Ancient Iroquois Burial Mound Located North of Fort Wayne, Indiana

This single mound located on the IPFW campus was originally built on a projecting upland formed at the confluence of Breckenridge creek and the St. Joseph River. A dam has flooded this area, leaving this mound partially submerged for most of the year. Photo is from, "The Nephilim Chronicles: A Travel Guide to the Ancient Ruins in the Ohio Valley.

The History of Allen County, Indiana, 1888:

“Prehistoric Remains” by R. S. Robertson

Still further down the river, on the east side, at the mouth of Breckenridge Creek, is a single mound, which has not been opened except a slight excavation in its side, which developed the customary lumps of charcoal. This point is about four miles north of Ft. Wayne, and is the most southerly point in the county at which mounds and earthworks are known to exist.

Fish Weir in Wabash County, Indiana Constructed by the Meadowood Iroquois

Ancient Fish Weir in Wabash County Dates as Early as 1,200 B.C.

The Eel weir at Laketon reveals the only clue as to who built the stone works in Wabash County. In 1986, R. Ferguson wrote a paper called “Archaeological Sites In the Kejimkujik National Park, Nova Scotia. Ms.,” in which he identified what he called the “Eel Weir complex,” a group of triangular-shaped, stone fish weirs along the Mersey River that included Meadowood (Iroquois) type points. These weirs were constructed to catch eels in the fall and gaspergeau in the spring. The weir and stone bowl may date as early 1,200 B.C. which is the earliest known date of the Meadowood Iroquois.

From North Manchester, go south three miles on State Road 13 to County Road 900 North, go west a couple of miles to Laketon Road, and then north to the bridge at Laketon where the weir is visible. Or, from Roann, take State Road 16 east four miles to the Laketon Road and then north to Laketon.

Fort Wayne, Indiana - 200 B.C. - 200 A.D.

Fort Wayne, Indiana - 200 B.C. - 200 A.D.
Burial mounds and earthworks constructed by the ancient Iroquois

   There are several prehistoric mound builder sites that are Point Peninsula Iroquois that dates from 200 B.C. - 200 A.D. The remnants of an earthen Sun Temple or Henge is located on the St. Joseph River and a burial mound surrounded by a slight ditch on the Maumee River at Bull Rapids.

A burial mound is located on a high bluff overlooking the Maumee River east of Ft. Wayne, Indiana.  A slight ditch surrounds the mound that is diagnostic of Point Peninsula Iroquois.

The ancient Iroquois believed in Animism, which is the belief that spirits resided in springs, rapids and other natural landmarks.  The site of the mound is located next to a spring that emits water that is magnetized and was bottled at one time. The mound is located at Bull Radids on the Maumee River.

This "Spirit Tree" was also found at this site.  The tree was estimated at being over 500 years old and shows the long history of this being a spiriitual site for the Iroquois. The tree was hit by lightning in 2001 and destroyed.

Description of Iroquois Indian Forts and Earthworks

Description of Iroquois Indian Forts and Earthworks

       Squier,whose extensive researches among aboriginal remains in Central America and elsewhere, fitted him for the task of careful inquiry, visited this county and other portions of the State a score of years ago. His object was to determine if these enclosures had a common origin with the vast system of earth- works of the Mississippi valley, whose construction in a remote age. is assigned to the mysterious Mound-Builders. But they proved to be wanting in the regularity of outline of those unique western structures. The builders, he says, instead of planning them upon geometrical principles, like those of the west, regulated their forms entirely by the nature of the ground upon which they were built. The pottery and other relics found scattered among their ruins are " absolutely identical with those which mark the sites of towns and forts known to have been occupied by the Indians within the historical period ;' ' and, instead of placing their construction back in the ages of the misty past, it may be referred to the period succeeding the discovery of America or not long anterior to that event. The Senecas, quite likely, on being driven from (Genundewah, took the precaution to provide their new habitations with defenses against unfriendly tribes of the west and north ; for they were then in their weakest condition, and had most need of such security as their simple art of defense might afford. Earth walls would, without doubt, be first suggested as the means of local protection against assaults by hostile neighbors. These earth-works generally ' ' occupy high and commanding sites near the bluff edges of those broad terraces by which the country rises from the level of the lakes. When met with upon lower grounds, it is usually upon some dry knoll or little hill, or where banks of streams serve to lend strength to the position. A few have been found upon slight elevations in the midst of swamps, where dense forests and almost impassable marshes protected them from discovery and attack. In nearly all cases they are placed in close proximity to some unfailing supply of water, near copious springs or running streams. Gateways opening toward these are always to be observed, and in some cases guarded passages are visible."* In preparing to construct these defenses (Cusick says) "they set fire against several trees required to make a fort ; the stone axes were then used to rub off the coals so as to burn quicker. When the tree burned down they put fire to it in places about three paces apart and burnt it off in half a day. The logs were then collected at a place where they set them up around according to the bigness of the fort, and the earth heaped on both sides. ' ' Embankments were dispensed with after the introduction of the spade and other European implements enabled the Indians to plant their pickets more firmly in the ground. Traces of long occupancy are found in all these works. Relics of art, such as clay pipes, metal ornaments, earthen jars of clay tempered with pounded quartz and glass, or with fine sand, and covered with rude ornaments, stone hammers, and even parched corn which, by lapse of time had become carbonized, were discovered by Squier and others in caches or " wells." The latter, designed for the deposit of corn and other stores, "have been found six or eight feet in depth, usually located on the most elevated spot within the inclosure." Fragments of bones, charcoal and ashes and other evidences of occupancy, are always to be met with. Many of these works, traced by the pioneers, were covered with heavy forests, and, in several instances, trees from one to three feet in thickness were observed by Squier growing upon the embankments, and in the trenches. This would carry back the date of their construction several hundred years. The inclosures, though usually varying from one to four acres in area, ruins of much greater extent have been found. The larger ones were designed for permanent occupancy, the smaller, for temporary protection — "the citadels in which the builders sought safety for their old men, women and children in case of alarm or attack," or when the braves were absent on the war-path. The embankments were seldom more than four feet in height. The spot selected was generally convenient to fishing-places and hunting- grounds, and contiguous to fertile bottoms. Indeed, all indications render it probable that the occupants were fixed and agricultural in their habits

Native American, Iroquois Mound Builders of Northern Indiana and Michigan

Native American, Iroquois Mound Builders of Northern Indiana and Michigan

Discover Ancient American

Take an unprecedented view of ancient Indiana and Michigans Iroquois Indian mound, burial grounds and earthworks in Northern Indiana and southern Michigan.  Many if these sites have been and are still being desecrated by University archaeologists. Indiana and Michigan Historical Societies refuse to acknowledge these as historic sites.  Instead, they fund  the university archaeologists to desecrate these Native American burial grounds that are American Treasures. Directions to all these Native Ancient American sites are listed in "The Nephilim Chronicles: A Travel Guide to the Ancient Ruins in the Ohio Valley."

         Your Travel Guide to the Native American Burial Grounds in Indiana and Michigan

Iroquois Burial Mound Photographed in Allen County, Indiana

Iroquois Burial  Mound Photographed in Allen County, Indiana

IIroquois burial mound located in eastern Allen County, Indiana on the Maumee River.  This Iroquois burial mound was photographed prior to being destroyed by IPFW archaeologist, who removed skeletons and artifacts from the mound according to eyewitnesses.  Like 80% of all archaeological digs there was no known academic paper produced from this excavation. To see all of the burial mounds in Allen County, Indiana  https://adenahopewellmoundbuildersohiovalley.blogspot.com/2011/10/mound-builders-in-fort-wayne-allen.html

    
  222 burial mounds and earthworks sites were photographed and directions provided in Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, Kentucky and Michigan.  84 sites were photographed in Indiana.

DISCOVER AN ANCIENT WORLD