MOUNDS OF SANGAMON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



827 



era point, however, an ascent might be more readily made, and here we 

 find a mound. The northwestern face, along- the spring branch, is also 

 very steep and easily defended. At the east end the bluff would be 

 easily ascended, and here were built three mounds. But the point most 

 liable to attack, and the hardest to defend, the point at which an enemy 

 might rush across level ground into the encampment, lies between the 

 heads of the two little spring branches, and was defended by four 

 mounds. At all other points, except where the mounds are placed, the 

 bluff' is so steep and hard to climb that a few resolute men on top could 

 repulse a host. Opposite the mounds an entrance to the high level 

 ground would be easy. Mounds 1 to 6 are oblong, 1, 5, and 6 having 

 the greatest length north and south, and 2 to 4 the greatest length east 

 and west. These long mounds are about 20 feet in width, 50 feet in 

 length, and 18 inches height. Mound 7 and 8 are round, 7 having a di- 

 ameter of about 30 feet by a height of 18 inches, while 8 has a 

 diameter of 50 feet by a height of 2 feet. The bluff is covered with 

 heavy timber. The immediate neighborhood was known to the Indians 

 and early settlers as good hunting grounds. No exploration was made. 



OLCOTT MOUNDS. 



About a quarter of a mile above the junction of Horse Creek and 

 South Fork, on the east bank of the latter, in Rochester Township, on 

 the SE. ^ of the NW, £ Sec. 20, is a group of mounds. The following is 

 a sketch of the location and surrounding natural features: 



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Fig. 2. — Olcott Mounds, Sangamon Co., 111. 



