| Chapter 1: | Romantic Antiquarian Literature |
Many antiquarian writers in the 19th century excavated prehistoric sites and accumulated huge collections of artifacts. Their shoddy methods, lack of documentation, and haste contributed to a process of wanton destruction and free-for-all looting. Disinterring Indian graves to obtain skeletons and burial offerings was an especially popular pastime, as the best-made ceremonial artifacts were found in graves. This practice was soon translated into a literary metaphor, which will be examined later. Prehistoric remains were considered part of the spoils of national expansion and commodified. Reviewing the nineteenth century, archaeologist Arthur C. Parker wrote, “Indian relics became a passion and a considerable traffic sprang up. The great firm of Tiffany and Company had its small beginnings in the sale of Indian implements and became a jewelry company only after a partner named Young added a watch repairer’s table to the shop and began to sell inexpensive jewelry” (244). Indeed, much of the early harvest of looted artifacts was sold in Europe.
Illustration 2. Front and profile views of a sandstone effigy reportedly found in Belmont County, Ohio, from Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi Valley (251).
