ANCIENT EARTHWORKS IN OHIO. 261 



from which the loam could have been taken in such quantity. Many 

 small mounds are situated near by. IsTo excavations or investigations 

 have ever been made. 



AXCIENT EARTinVORKS OF ASHLAXD COUXTY, OHIO. 



By George W. Hill, M. D., of Ashland, Ohio. 



Evidence of the existence of a race somewhat advanced in the arts 

 of military defense, anterior to the appearance of the Caucasian, is 

 found in almost every part of this county. Mounds and intrenchments 

 in all the great valleys and commanding points are very numerous. 

 The principal streams along which the earthworks are found are the 

 Muddy, the Jerome, the Black and Clear Forks of the Mohican. 



Tylefs Fort. — On section 24, now in Wayne County, a short distance 

 below the junction, upon the heights northeast of Tylertown, and east of 

 the stream, is an ancient intrenchment. It overlooks the valley, which 

 here is about one and a half miles wide, and afibrds an extended view 

 up and down the Mohican. The work is situated on an elevated spur of 

 the ridge, on the lands of Benjamin Tyler; is circular in form, and con- 

 tains about three acres. When Mr. Tyler took possession in 1814, he 

 found the work destitute of grown timber. The ridge, in and about the 

 intrenchment, had the appearance of having been often burned over. He 

 found the embankment about 4 feet high and about 10 feet in diameter 

 at the base, and completely covered with hazel-bush, about as high as 

 his head. He states that he stood in the center of the work, and could 

 overlook the Mohican Valley for many miles. The work is now covered 

 by a growth of thrifty young white-oak, ranging from 50 to 70 feet in 

 height, and 10 to 15 inches in diameter. Contrary to the general rule, 

 there was no spring in the immediate vicinity of this earthwork. 



Ramsey's Fort. — Ascending the Muddy Fork, about 15 miles, we find 

 another intrenchment upon the lands of John Earasey, on the southwest 

 quarter of section 28, in Jackson Township. The valley of the stream 

 the entire distance is very fertile, and was once a favorite resort of the 

 Uelawares. This work is situated on the western side of an elevated 

 ridge, overlooking the valley. The eastern line of the intrenchment 

 reaches the summit facing the valley. The work is quadrangular, and 

 estimated to contain a fraction over two acres. When first discovered 

 the embankment was about 3 feet in height, and from 8 to 10 in diameter 

 at the base. The timber within the fort was equal in size to that of the 

 forest around it, and was of the same character. The area of the fort has 

 been cultivated about twenty-five years, and the embankment is nearly 

 obliterated by the plow. While plowing within the fort, a highly-pol- 

 ished stone hammer was found, five inches long, two inches at the base, 

 and one and one-half inches at the point, encircled in the middle by a 



