Some Facts and Comideratiom about FoH Ancient. 293 



torn of one of these, showed the mound to consist of a homogeneous 

 loam, much compacted, and exhibiting the mottled appearance caused 

 by heaping togetlier earth from different localities. The only remains 

 discovered were minute fragments of charred wood distributed through 

 the mound, and, near the surface, a few bones of an ox, somewhat 

 decayed, but evidently an intrusive burial, probably by the later Indi- 

 ans who occupied the fortification. 



Two other mounds, now almost obliterated by cultivation, stand 

 within this portion of the work. An examination of these showed 

 them to be places were long-continued fires were had, but for what 

 purpose was not evident, as no remains of pottery or other manufac- 

 tures were discovered in the vicinity. The earth was burned to a con- 

 siderable depth, and covered by the debris of burned rock in great 

 quantities. 



From the two exterior mounds above mentioned formerly extended 

 two low parallel walls of earth, about fifty or sixty feet apart, nearly 

 half a mile eastwardly to another mound, around which the walls met, 

 forming an enlarged circle. These walls, which have now entirelv 

 disappeared, except where division fences cross and protect them from 

 the plow, bordered a roadway leading to the mound. 



The care and labor expended in constructing a roadway so marked, 

 suggest certain reflections which are not devoid of interest in this con 

 nection. First, it is to be observed that the mound is situated one or 

 two degrees north of east from the main gateway above mentioned, 

 the roadway pursuing a straight line between these points. A similar 

 variation from the true points of the comjiass exists, it is believed, in 

 some of the similar works in the Scioto and Miami valleys, and also in 

 Florida and Mexico, where there would appear to have been an inten- 

 tion to locate Vv'alls, avenues, or elevated teocalli, uj)on east and west 

 lines. What means the builders had for determining the points of the 

 compass, we are ignorant; but from the manifest skill displayed in 

 other features of construction, we may suppose that in this they pos- 

 sessed some fixed and uniform method of determination. The design 

 appai-ent in locating works of this kind, especially pyramids and ter- 

 races, was to obtain an unobstructed view of the sun in his rising and 

 setting, and may be traced even in the two pyramids of Teotihuacan, 

 traditionally sacred to the sun and moon, situated eight leagues from 

 the city of JNIexico, northeast of Lake Tezcuco, which, in the opinion 

 of Baron Humboldt, are the most ancient of all the Mexican struc- 

 tures, and Avhich served the Aztecs as models in the construction of 

 the pyramid of Cholula. It would be difficult to account for this var- 

 iation, if upon investigation it should be found uniform, unless con- 



