266 ANCIENT EARTHWORKS IN OHIO. 



area of about three acres, and had a gate-way at the west. Yery near 

 it, on the east side, stood a large mound, from which copper beads and 

 stone implements have been taken. 



I am informed by Dr. J. P. Henderson, of Newville, that this mound 

 was opened about fifty years ago. In it were found human bones, char- 

 coal, decayed wood, a stone pipe, the stem of which was wrapped with 

 copper wire, and a copper wedge. The mound was of a peculiar struc- 

 ture. It was built of large flat stones in a circular form, like a shot- 

 tower, and filled up and around with earth, and was a cone in appear- 

 ance. Many stone axes, stone fleshers, and polished stone plates have 

 been found in the vicinity of these works. 



Darling's Fort. — About two and a half miles south of Parr's fort, near 

 Saint John's church, on the north bank of the Clear Fork of the Mohican, 

 may be seen another defensive work. It is circular, and contains au 

 area of nearly 3 acres. It had embankments from the gate on the south 

 side (as I am informed), leading dowh to the bank of the stream. When 

 first discovered it was covered with large timber, and the embankment 

 was over 3 feet high. It commands a full view of the valley for many 

 miles, and was doubtless used as a defensive work. Many very choice 

 stone relics have been plowed up along the valley by farmers, and are 

 now in the cabinet of Dr. James P. Henderson, of Newville. 



We find no other remains until we reach the village of Mifflin. On 

 level land a little northwest of this village is a large mound. The top 

 is slightly flattened, and was, no doubt, used as a burial spot by the 

 Delawares. It has not been excavated and its contents are only a mat- 

 ter of conjecture. Many stone axes, some beads, flint arrow-heads, and 

 pick-shaped implements of stone, highly finished, have been plowed up 

 by the farmers all along the valley of the Black Fork. 



There are, perhaps, twenty or thirty smaller mounds scattered over 

 the country, to which my attention has not been given. The mounds 

 of this county are invariably truncated, and none exceed 10 feet in 

 height. I am inclined to the opinion that many of the smaller ones 

 were the center of an encampment, and were erected for sacrificial pur- 

 poses. Such a mound existed in the center of the council-house of 

 Greentown. The venison and bear-meat for their great feasts was 

 boiled in large copper kettles upon the mound. This may account for 

 the charcoal, ashes, and charred bones so frequently found in small flat 

 mounds. I have reason to believe, also, the tent or wigwam of the rul- 

 ing chief was sometimes placed on a central mound of similar structure. 



Stone implements. — Several classes of implements are found in great 

 numbers within this county. They seem to have been scattered broad- 

 cast over the hills and valleys. One class consists of highly-polished 

 stone pestles, stone axes, weighing from six or eight ounces to five or six 

 pounds, stone fleshers, stone implements, pick-shaped, with a neatly- 

 drilled hole in the middle, stone beads, and flat variegated stones from 



