ABORIGINAL RUINS IN TENNESSEE. 41 



tliem carefully '^ chunked up," aud the irregularities were due to the 

 different positions of the cross-pieces; the log, in consequence of being 

 green, having immediately ceased to bum Avhen there ^yas no direct 

 contact. 



In addition to these charred logs there were a number of upright 

 posts, also charred, which seemed to have been i)laced in position as the 

 earth had been filled in, to prevent too great a pressure upon the flues. 

 Some of them were more than a foot in diameter and five or six feet 

 long. Their ends presented the same irregular outline as the hori- 

 zontal pieces. I found one piece of split timber four feet long, eight 

 inches wide, and two inches thick. Its ends showed that it had been 

 broken to its existing length by main force, for, although a solid coal, 

 the splinters were yet perfect. 



I saw nothing about any of these timbers that indicated their having 

 been worked by other means than fire, and if there had been anything 

 I would certainly have noticed it, for thej' Avere entire, just as tliey had 

 been placed in the mound, merely large, solid coals. The coal was in 

 as good a state of preservation as if burned but yesterday, as you will 

 see by the specimen sent. Two of our blacksmiths have examined these 

 specimens. Both agree that one kind is chestnut, ( Castanca vesca, Linn.,) 

 but differ with reference to the other — one claiming that it is poplar, 

 [Liriodendron tuUpifera., Linn.,) while the other pronounces it our yellow 

 pine, {Pinus rigida, Miller.) The two former trees grow abundantly 

 about the locality of the ruins, but the pine has not grov.-n nearer than 

 four or five miles since the country has been known to white people. 



Every inxvt of the large end of this mound, from base to top, had 

 been affected by the heat from the furnaces and flues. In fact, it was 

 one huge brick, hard burned near the base, and softer toward the top. 

 The earth seemed to have been thrown up loose ; none of it had been 

 tenipered except that forming the arch of the furnaces and the walls of 

 the flues. There were no fragments of T)ottery, or dross, or cinders, or 

 anything else upon which a hypothesis could be based touching the 

 object for which the mound had been used. Ashes in the furnaces, 

 bones, burned earth, and charred timbers, as already mentioned, were 

 the only things found after a most careful and exhaustive examination. 



Mound P : This mound, about fifteen yards across and four feet high, 

 was opened by curiosity-seekers two years ago. Report says they found 

 nine copper spools like those taken from G, a copper wedge, and a stone 

 paint mortar, as I call it in default of a better name. After diligent 

 inquiry among the people interested in the digging, I have succeeded in 

 obtaining the "wedge," the mortar, and part of one of the spools. The 

 discoloration in the concaves of the mortar is due to something put into 

 it since it was found — indelible ink, (nitrate of silver.) I think. The 

 markings around the edge were the same when found. 



The parties who did the digging assure me that they saw no bones, 

 but I think they must have overlooked them, for on opening the mound 



