ANTIQUITIES OF KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. 269 



sand-rocks, fragments of rude pottery, pieces of decomposed wood, and 

 frequently pieces of muscle shells. I found signs of fire mostly in the 

 center of the cave, while fragments of pottery and bones were more fre- 

 quently met near the outer edge. A small piece of a cocoanut shell was 

 discovered near the bottom of the deposit. This proves that the cave- 

 dwellers of Kentucky carried on trade to some extent with their southern 

 neighbors. About three hundred yards farther down the valley, and on 

 the opposite side, at a corresponding elevation, is an underground cavern 

 which runs under the hill to a considerable distance. In this cave I hoped 

 to find the skeletons of the ancient cave-dwellers, but I was mistaken. 

 After a diligent examination of every part I discovered nothing but the 

 skull of an animal. In one corner near the mouth of the cave I found 

 a number of burnt sand-rocks, but could discover no other signs of fire 

 or human habitation. I find a great many arrow-heads and flint chips 

 scattered all over this country, and also numbers of rough sandstones 

 with cavities in one side. 



Recently I visited the mounds of Indian Hill, located on the farm of 

 Mr. James Sanders, about three and a half miles north of Pellsville, 

 Hancock County, Kentucky. Indian Hill is about 150 feet in height, 

 and on the summit of it are three mounds built entirely of sandstone, 

 which must have been conveyed a distance of at least 250 yards up the 

 steep side of the hill. The mounds are 25 feet in diameter at the base, 

 and were originally 12 feet in height, 15 feet apart, and in a straight line 

 with the ridge, of the hill, which runs in a direction northeast by east. 

 The average weight of the stones used in constructing these mounds is 

 about 65 pounds, but many of them will weigh J 00 pounds. The mounds 

 were perfectly solid, having no cavity in the interior whatever, neither 

 were used as sepulchres, for the parties who opened them some years 

 ago state that they found no traces of human remains. Close to the 

 base of one of the mounds is a white-oak tree which is about 18 or 20 

 inches in diameter, and probably one hundred and fifteen years of age. 

 This tree bears no mark or hacks, which it doubtless would have re- 

 ceived and yet exhibit, if the Indians who occupied this country one 

 hundred years ago were in any way connected with these mounds. About 

 20 feet northeast of the most northerly mound many flint chips may be 

 found, which indicates the jilace where the mound-builders were in the 

 habit of manufacturing their arrow-heads, spear-heads, «S:c. Many stone 

 implements occur in the vicinity of these mounds. 



ANTIQUITIES OF TEXx\ESSEE. 

 By W. M. Clark, of FranlcUn, Tenn. 



The mounds and cemeteries of Tennessee are situated throughout the 

 whole of the State, but especially in the middle portion. The Indians 

 seem to have preferred a water-course for their habitations, and it is 

 generally the case, that, wherever these remains exist, there are the very 



