ENCLOSURES. 263 



eighteen hundred, and enclosing about one hundred and 



O ' ** 



eleven acres. To the right of this, the principal work is a 

 perfect square, containing an area of about sixteen acres. 

 Each side is eight hundred and fifty feet in length, and in 

 the middle of each is a gateway thirty feet wide, covered by a 

 small mound. Within the area of the great work are several 

 smaller, mounds and enclosures, and it is estimated that not 

 less than three millions of cubic feet of earth were used in 

 this great undertaking. Yet from the peculiarly mottled 

 character of the earth forming these mounds, it would appear 

 to have been brought in bags or small parcels.* It has also 

 been observed that water is almost invariably found within 

 or close to these enclosures. 



It is remarkable that there is not a single case in which 

 counter-works occur near any of the ancient North American 

 fortifications. Col. Whitfcleseyf* draws from this fact the con- 

 clusion that the period during which the mound -builders 

 turned " their attention to military affairs was probably short, 

 and, when their preparations were made, they may have with- 

 drawn farther south without a vigorous defence." I should 

 rather infer that the warfare of the mound -builders, like that 

 of the more modern Eed Indians, consisted, not of persevering 

 sieges, but of sudden attacks and surprises. 



If the purpose for which the works belonging to the first 

 class were erected is very evident, the same cannot be said 

 for those which we have now to mention. That they were 

 not intended for defence is inferred by Messrs. Squier and 

 Davis from their small size, from the ditch being inside the 

 embankment, and from their position, which is often com- 

 pletely commanded by neighbouring heights. 



Dr. Wilson also (vol. i. p. 824) follows Sir E. C. Hoare in 

 considering the position of the ditch as being a distinguish- 



* Whittlesey, On the Weapons and Character of the Mound-builders. 

 Mem. Boston Soc. of Nat. Hist. vol. i. pt. iv. p. 473. t 1. e. p. 479. 



