W R K S F D E F E N C E . 07 



in their design, and would seem to point to the conclusion, that this was a fortified 

 town, rather than a defensive work of last resort. 



It is situated on the North fork of Paint creek, on the estate of W. C. Clark, 

 Esq. and occupies the entire width of the second terrace, which here presents a 

 broad and level plain, of exceeding beauty and fertility. Its general form is that of 

 a parallelogram, twenty-eight hundred feet by eighteen hundred, with one of its 

 corners somewhat rounded. On the side next the creek, it is bounded by a wall 

 four feet high, running along the very edge of the terrace-bank, and conforming to 

 its irregularities ; these however are slight. Its remaining sides are bounded by 

 a wall and exterior ditch ; the wall is six feet high by thirty-five feet base, and 

 the ditch of corresponding dimensions. The lines ascend the declivity of the table 

 land back of the terrace, and extend along its brow, dipping into the ravines and 

 rising over the ridges into which it has been cut by the action of water. Wherever 

 the ravines are of any considerable depth, the wall has been washed away ; but in 

 all cases leaving evidences that it once extended uninterruptedly through. The 

 bank of the terrace is thirty, that of the table-land fifty feet in height. 



The area thus enclosed is one hundred and eleven acres. To the right of the 

 principal work, and connecting with it by a gateway at its centre, is a smaller 

 work of sixteen acres area. It is a perfect square ; its sides measuring respectively 

 eight hundred and fifty feet. It has gateways at the middle of each side, thirty feet 

 wide, and covered by small mounds, which are placed fifty feet interior to the walls. 

 There are gateways also at the two outer corners, which are unaccompanied by 

 mounds. The opening which leads to the principal enclosure is twice as wide as 

 the others. The walls of the smaller work are much lighter than those of the large 

 one, and have no attendant ditch. 



Within the area of the great work, are two small ones : one of them is a perfect 

 circle, three hundred and fifty feet in diameter, bounded by a single slight wall, with 

 a gateway opening to the west ; the other is a semi-circular enclosure, two thousand 

 feet in circumference, bounded by a slight circumvallation and ditch as represented in 



the plan. Within this last enclosure (of which 

 "v^'-S^c-^ ' • ^'S' 3 is a view) are seven mounds ; three of 



^^g!^ "^ which are joined together, forming a continuous 



vc-?- 



elevation thirty feet high by five hundred feet long, 

 and one hundred and eighty broad at the base. 

 (See longitudinal section n 0.) The ground 

 \\ ithin this work appears to be elevated above 

 the general level of the plain, whether design- 

 edly or by the wasting of the mounds it is im- 

 possible to say. There are other mounds at the 

 ^"'- ^- points indicated in the plan, most of which have 



been explored ; with what results will appear in the chapter on mounds. It may 

 nevertheless be proper to remark, that nearly all the mounds examined were places 

 of sacrifice, containing altars ; thus confirming the opinion already confidently 

 expressed, respecting the character of the work. 



Where the defences descend from the table lands to the left, is a gully or torrent- 



