588 



ANTHROPOLOGICAL PAPERS. 



base, and ends truncate. This earth- work runs about 17 degrees west of 

 north, and is composed of the ordinary drift soil of the region. 



No " dug-holes," or other excavations, were observ^ed, from which earth 

 might have been taken for the construction of the fortification. 



roHTiFXCATiOB. 



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 §)muniiHfl/u(imnroira)/mfliiinniiHijni(iiijiff///ii;tiwi(i(roiir((i;;/)mnTiini;[rin2^^ 



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Abandoned Ceamkel of L. Cf. R. 



FLOOD PLANE 



Fig. 5.— Map showing location of ancient fortification. 



Several excavations had been made in different parts of this earth- 

 work by various parties, but no relics were discovered. Flint arrow 

 points are not unfrequently found on the surface in this region. 



So far as is at present known to me, this is the first mound-builder 

 fortification discovered in northern Iowa. It is reported that there oc- 

 cur in what is known as the " big woods," on the west side of the Little 

 Cedar, 7 miles below the above locality, three mounds. These mounds 

 are composed of drift bowlders and soil, are about 2J feet high, 2 feet 

 wide, and from 4 to 7 feet in length. 



POSTSCRIPT. 



At the time the preceding account of ancient mounds in Floyd and 

 Cerro Gordo Counties was prepared, a portion of the surface near the 

 southern extremity of the line of mounds was covered by an almost un- 

 penetrable growth of brush, vines, and weeds. Here were observed 

 what appeared to be several artificial mounds ; but, under the condition 

 stated, there was so much doubt regarding their origin that no mention 



