37G ETHNOLOGY. 



plored the region now comprising Western New York. Traces of a moat 

 Avbich once encircled this work are still discernible at intervals. This 

 moat is broad in proportion to its present depth, and in this respect is 

 not regular. It was probably made by the removal of earth ior the 

 construction of the walls, and perhaps it was not intended as an addi- 

 ^tional defense, though it must to some extent have served as such. 



Three features presented by this work add much to its interest: 

 first, it is almost exactly circular in form ; secondly, it consists of two 

 parallel embankments j thirdly, the oi>enings for i^assage are not oppo- 

 site in the two walls. These three peculiarities distinguish this from 

 all other earthworks known east of Ohio. 



Ten rods south of this work lies a peat-swamp, two miles in length 

 by one in breadth. This swamp is or has been covered by a heavy 

 growth of black-ash timber. A vertical section of seven feet in this 

 swamp shows first the remains of trees to the depth of two feet, next 

 below the remains of marsh -pi ants, gradually becoming peat, which, as 

 the depth increases, changes in character and color from dark brown to 

 light blue. At all depths in this peat are to be seen the remains of 

 leaves evidently brought by the winds from the forests of the surround- 

 ing higher land. Underlying this peat is a stratum from three to five 

 inches in thickness, composed entirely of fresh-water shells, mostly uni- 

 valves ; some of which are apparently species of Pauludina. Beneath 

 this stratum there occurs another, composed of blue clay, intermixed 

 with sand, containing occasionally the remains of shells, among which 

 have been found specimens of the fresh-water clam, ( Unio.) 



These facts lead to the conclusion that this peat-swamp was probably 

 a shallow lake at the' time when the works were constructed. This con- 

 clusion is also strengthened by the fact that there is no evidence of 

 the existence of a iJermanent supply of water elsewhere within a mile of 

 the work. 



It is proper to state that the supply of fish in this ancient lake was 

 abundant ; replenished during the time of high water in the spring 

 of each year from Lake Ontario, thirteen miles distant, through Oak 

 Orchard Creek, into which its outlet flows. 



West from the work,^t a distance of half a mile on the eastern slope 

 of a sand-hill, is a large " bone-pit," where the bones of many hundreds 

 have been deposited. It is said by "old settlers" that those portions of 

 the work now included in the cultivated fields spoken of, originally pre- 

 sented the same features now seen in those which the forest includes. 



Of course exaggerated stories are told of the relics which have been 

 plowed up in these fields. Without doubt many which would be of 

 great interest to an ethnologist have been found, kept for a while, and 

 then given to the children as playthings by those who knew nothing of 

 their value as relics. 



On making excavations in those portions still uncultivated, many 

 specimens of great interest are found. They usually lie from six to 



