174 



ANCIENT M O N U M E N T S 



different in their forms, but which were undoubtedly appropriated to the isanie 

 purpose. The mound embraced in the circular work connected with the Ports- 

 mouth group, is an example. (See Plate XXVIII.) Though much defaced, its 

 original plan caa easily be made out. It is circular, placed on a terrace, is trun- 

 cated, and has a spiral pathway leading to its summit. The purpose already 

 assigned to it, viz. that of a site for a temple, or a '* high place " lor the performance 

 of ceremonies probably connected with the superstitions of the ancient people, is 

 indicated not less by the peculiarities of its construction, than by the character of 

 the enclosure in which it is situated. 



The feature of truncation is not, however, peculiar to this class of mounds. It 

 is frequently observed in those which, upon investigation, are found to be sepulchral 

 in their character ; in which cases it is to be attributed to the falling in of the 

 sepulchral chambers. This circumstance gave the summit of the Grave creek 

 Mound a hollow or dish-shaped form, which was a source of much conjecture, 

 until the excavation of the mound explained the cause. 



Along the Mississippi river, and especially as we approach the Gulf, these 

 regular structures increase both in number and magnitude. In Kentucky they 

 are more frequent than in the States north of the Ohio river ; and in Tennessee 

 and Mississippi they are still more abundant. Some of the largest, however, 

 occur in pretty high latitudes. The great mound at Cahokia, Illinois, is one of the 



most remarkable. It has often been described, and 

 all accounts concur in respect to its great size. The 

 following approximate plan will serve to give an idea 

 of its general outline. It is of course much rounded, 

 and its regularity to a great degree destroyed, by the 

 storms and changes of centuries ; its original plan 

 is, however, represented to be still sufficiently obvious. The form of the mound is 

 that of a parallelogram, seven hundred feet long by five hundred wide at the base. 

 It is ninety feet in height. Upon one side is a broad apron or terrace, which is 

 reached by a graded ascent. At the time this mound was occupied by the monks 

 of La Trappe, the terrace was used as a garden. It is one hundred and sixty 

 feet wide and three hundred and fifty long ; the summit or highest part of the 

 mound (A) measures two hundred feet in width by four hundred and fifty in length. 

 Here formerly stood a broad, low mound, which was disturbed in preparing the 

 foundations of a dwelling house. Within it were found human bones, and various 

 implements of stone and pottery, probably belonging to a recent deposit. This 

 mound covers not far from eight acres of ground, and the area of its level suunnit 

 is about five acres. Its solid contents may be roughly estimated at twenty millions 

 of cubic feet.* A number of similar mounds, though of less size, occur in this 



Flo. 60. 



* Notes on tlie Aiuiciuitii-s ol lliu Mississi|)|)i Vallfv, l)y II. H. Brecia'iiridgf, 'riaiis. Am. Fliii. Sue 

 1813; Views of Louisiana, p. 172; Latrobe, vol. ii. p. -250; Featheislonliaugli's Travels in North 

 America, ]). 66. 



