870 PAPERS RELATING TO ANTHROPOLOGY. 



These facts, which may be noticed at other places as well as at Flint 

 Ridge, give much support to the theory of a general traffic in weapons 

 by one tribe with other tribes, and goes far toward explaining the oc- 

 currence of the great numbers of unfinished weapons, flakes, and spalls 

 of any particular flint scores or hundreds of miles from the place where 

 it could have been quarried. 



Before giving the second way in which the facts may be accounted 

 for, a little digression is necessary. 



As is well known to all who have perused the various works on arch- 

 aeology. Licking County is not surpassed by any equal area in the coun- 

 try in the size, number, and complicated arrangement of prehistoric 

 earthworks. More stone mounds, too, are found in its limits than in any 

 other one county, in Ohio at least. 



From the immense works at Newark a system of mounds and other 

 structures stretches towards the Muskingum Valley ou the east and the 

 Scioto on the west, so that by means of semaphoric communications the 

 whole region could be appraised in a short time of any unusual event. 



Notwithstanding this, the whole of Flint Ridge, despite its evidence of 

 long occupancy, shows few remains of this nature. 



The line dividing Franklin and Hopewell Townships crosses a stone 

 fort. The hill-top is level and gradually widens out as it extends east- 

 ward from the fort, which incloses about 10 acres and is built upon the 

 point of the hill in such a way as to reach the brow on the northern, 

 western, and southern sides, and is admirably situated for defensive op- 

 erations, and also for commanding the valleys leading from the ridge 

 westward. Within it are two mounds, one of earth, the other of stone, 

 not more than 20 yards apart. Both have been opened, but without re- 

 sults. The stone mound and the fort are constructed of flint blocks 

 gathered up from the outcrop just below the top of the hill. 



In the field containing the blocking-out shop, southwest of the black- 

 smith shop, is a circle of about 35 yards diameter ; a few rods west of 

 the blacksmith shoj) is, or rather was, another of about 50 yards ; and 

 on Bowman's farm, west of the pits, was another, whose size could not 

 be learned. Both tbe latter have been plowed down level with the sur- 

 rounding surface. They all seem to be village sites or permanent en- 

 campments, being on the highest ground in the vicinity. 



On Captain Loughman's farm, in the finishing shop east of the house, 

 a mound formerly stood which has been plowed down. From no point 

 on the ridge can a more extended view be obtained than from the site 

 of this mound. Hills in the three adjoining counties of Perry, Muskin- 

 gum, and Coshocton are plainly visible, and the country nearer at hand 

 is spread out like a map before the observer. 



These are all the places, so far as known, that indicate any perma- 

 nent settlements. Diligent search failed to reveal any traces of pottery 

 or other domestic imi)lements, nor does it appear that any relics have 



