PREHISTORIC EVIDENCES IN MISSOURI. 



351 



place situated on tlie summit of a ridge 250 feet in height, which rises 

 on the north side of Salt River, in the southeast quarter of section 11, 

 township 55, range 3 west. The walls were constructed of rough lime- 

 stone taken from the subjacent strata of the hill, and they inclosed two 

 vaults, each 9 feet square, and from 2 to 3 feet in height. The vaults 

 were not exactly in the same line, but varied about 5°. Some of the 

 stones had been removed and carried off. I saw only a few fragments 

 of human bones, but was informed that other and very large bones had 

 been found. The annexed sketch exhibits the form and relative position 



Fig. J 



of the two vaults, with their dimensions in feet marked thereon. They 

 appear to have been originally built with a step ou the outer face, as 

 shown at B. The outer portion of the wall lies partly tumbled as if 

 pulled down. Other similar burial places have existed in the county, 

 but at present their sites only remain, the stones having been used for 

 building purposes. 



Beck's Gazetteer of Missouri, published in 1823, on pages 305 and 306, 

 mentions curious ancient rock works two miles southwest of Louisiana, on 

 the bluffs of Noix Creek. He describes them as having been built with 

 great regularity on the top of a high bluff of the creek. As this book 

 is now out of print and but few copies can be found, 1 thought it but 

 proper to notice the account. I would add also that I have heard old 

 citizens speak of these now demolished walls. The figure I copy from 

 Beck. All the walls were of rough stone. 



E is a chamber, 3 feet wide, which was probably arched the whole 

 way, as portions of the arch still remained. It was made as repre- 

 sented in Pig. 7, and was probably about 5 feet above the ground. In 

 F, a similar chamber, a portion of the arch was still remaining. II was 

 a larger room with two entrances, 1 and K. The walls of this room were 

 partly remaining, from 3 to 5 feet high. Trees 2 feet in diameter were 

 growing on the inside. Fig. was a similar structure 80 rods due east, 

 with two rectangular closed chambers and an oval chamber having no 



