Obscrva/iotis Coiici'riiiiit^ h'orl Aiicwtit. 119 



existed here, the diameter of wliich was about 2.S0 feet. Like 

 nearly all circular earth-works, it probably had but one open- 

 ing or gate-way, and this is still plainly visiljle near the center 

 of the portion remaining. It is twenty-four feet wide, and 

 looks to the northwest. This opening is so distinct that w^e 

 have been surprised by not .seeing it mentioned by any of the 

 writers on Fort Ancient who have spoken of this crescent. 



Assuming that our opinion concerning this earth-work is 

 correct, a little moie than two-thirds of the circle which lay 

 to the southeast has been removed ; and, as we believe, by the 

 builders of the fort, in order to extend the area of level 

 ground, to which reference has been made. The material was 

 used either in the construction of the large investing embank- 

 ments, or in filling up the head of a ravine that is seen a short 

 distance south of the road. There is evidence that the heads 

 of several small ravines were filled in preparing this level 

 piece of ground. 



The gate-ways of Fort Ancient. The first one south of 

 the Chillicothe and Lebanon road, in the line of high embank- 

 ments, was, doubtless, the grand entrance for this part of the 

 fort. It is situated at the true neck of the peninsula which 

 we have described. It had, when first constructed, a top-width 

 of probably sixty feet, and a ground-width of from twenty to 

 twenty-six feet. Situated on the inside of the fort, and 

 extending a short distance into the gate-way, there was a 

 parapet, most likely circular in form, with an elevation but 

 little more than one-fourth that of the embankments. The 

 remains of this parapet are easily recognized. 



There are, we know, over seventy artificial openings or 

 gate-ways in the enclosing wall of the fort. The presence of 

 so man}' is a puzzling question, in view of the quite positive 

 evidence that the works were constructed for defensive pur- 

 poses. There are full}- as many, if not more, at places where 

 the builders apprehended danger, as elsewhere. We have an 

 illustration of this at the north-eastern part of the fort. At all 

 points, where the works could be more easily approached by 

 an enemy, the walls were made higher. But in no instance 

 was the number of gate-ways lessened 



Shall we conclude that there was something strategic in the 

 design of these openings? Did they serve as places where 



