278 The Earthivorks at Fort Ancient. 



Misses Mohr, J. A. Williams and wife, Miss M. Montfort, S. A. Miller 

 and wife, and others, amounting in all to about fifty persons. The 

 company met at Fort Ancient J. Kelly O'Neil, Dr. Scoville, from 

 Lebanon, and others. 



The train stopped on arriving at the west end of the fortifications, 

 about a mile from the station, and let the party off to ascend a very 

 steep hill, two hundred and thirty feet high, densely covered with 

 undergrowth and briars. The day was quite warm, which was another 

 obstacle in tlie way of a pleasant ascent to the top of the hill. But 

 the enthusiasm was great, and in a short time these difficulties were 

 overcome, and the whole party were within or seated upon the earth- 

 works which at this point are from ten to twenty feet high. Here the 

 party dispersed to pursue their separate plans for pleasure and instruc- • 

 tion. Some hunted land shells, some botanical specimens, and others 

 followed the meandering course of the earthworks, and speculated 

 upon the people that constructed them, whence they came and whither 

 they Avent; what they were constructed for, and whether or not 

 they were ever completed, and served the purpose for which they were 

 constructed. The collections were displayed, and the speculations de- 

 livered while the party constituted a picnic under the large beech 

 trees at the east end of the earthworks, on the old Lebanon and Chilli- 

 cothe pike. Here, near the east end of the works, resides a clever 

 farmer, from whose well we obtained plenty of cool water. He seemed 

 to be of the opinion that, the earthworks were constructed by the Jews, 

 about the time of Jesus Christ, and there are many other persons 

 Avhose opinions ai-e about as lucid. 



Since Prof. Locke made the survey of these earthworks in 1843, 

 some changes in the grounds have occurred, and a few discoveries have 

 been made, though we are but little better informed in regard to the 

 works than we were then. A hirge field has recently been cleared 

 within the west fortification, which is now cultivated in corn, and 

 some additional clearing has been made in the east fortification, but 

 the most of the ground is covered with dense undergrowth and briars, 

 making it difficult to examine and survey the whole fortification. 



Prof. Locke describes the works as follows: "This work occupies a 

 terrace on the left bank of the river, and two hundred and thirty feet 

 above its waters. The place is naturally a strong one, being a penin- 

 sula, defended by two ravines, which, originating on the east side, near 

 to each other, diverging and sweeping around, enter the Miami, the 

 one above, the other below the woi-k. The Miami itself, with its 

 precipitous bank of two hundred feet, defends the western side. The 

 ravines are occupied by small streams. Quite around this peninsula, 



