122 Cinciunali Society of Xatural History. 



whose remains are found in rude stone cists in the embank- 

 ments, and in other places, particularly in the river bottoms. 

 Their bones are much better preserved than those found in 

 tlie mounds about the fort, notwithstanding the conditions 

 of sepulture were very unfavorable for the preservation of 

 human remains. 



There is no question but that there is a vast difference in 

 the age of the earth-works in Ohio and elsewhere in the 

 Mississippi Valley. And we are of the opinion that there is 

 quite a differance in the age of those seen at Fort Ancient. 

 There are indications that the parallel walls, the different 

 mounds, the crescent, and perhaps the two moats, were con- 

 structed long before the heavy enclosing walls. When these 

 minor works were first seen by the white settlers, they were 

 much more worn than any portion of the investing walls. 

 Before the land was cleared and cultivated, the parallel walls 

 were so flattened down as to ver}^ much resemble ordinary 

 road-beds. The early settlers always spoke of them as road- 

 ways. The crescent, although it has never been disturbed by 

 plow or harrow, is much worn down, and so smoothly and 

 compactly blended, as it were, with the natural ground, that 

 the casual observer would hardly suspect that it was artificial. 

 It has every indication of being much older than the large 

 embankments. We have already indicated that it existed 

 when the Fort proper was built. 



There can be but little doubt that the peninsula, on which 

 the fort stands, was occupied by the Mound Builders long 

 before it was invested with high walls. And if our opinion 

 is correct, the artificial defenses consisted of the long guarded- 

 way, probably the two moats, and the contiguous mounds. 

 These works, however, partook largely of a strategic character, 

 and were not designed wholly for the protection of the 

 dwellers on the peninsula, but for the inhabitants of the 

 surrounding villages as well. There were at least two of 

 these old-time villages in the river bottom near the fort. 

 Their sites are now three feet or more below the surface of 

 the grf)und. 



