MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS RELATING TO ANTHROPOLOGY. 601 



Joues' station. These papers were placed iu my possession January 

 2G, 1880. On the 27th of the month, in company with Mr. John W. 

 Erwiu, I started to locate the works. Although it had been nearly 

 thirty-eight years since Mr. Erwin visited the spot and assisted in the 

 survey, and made the original delineation, he recognized the spot and 

 the plan of the works as preserved in the papers of James McBride. 



These works were located on the southeastern slope of one of the 

 highest hills in the vicinity. The hill is a detached ohe and surrounded 

 entirely by one of the richest valleys in the State. Between it and the 

 uplands toward the north was originally a swamp. This swamp was 

 drained at the expense of and under the direction of the State. Through 

 it passes the Miami Canal. The hill is composed of a yellowish clay, 

 having been formed during that period known as the glacial or drift. 

 Its summit is about 225 feet higher than the city of Hamilton. 



The works are now entirely obliterated. There is not the slightest 

 evidence that they ever existed. "We searched in vain. They occurred 

 in both Fairfield and Union Townships, on section 15 of the former and 9 

 of the latter. The township line passing through the works, if extended 

 southward, would terminate at the foot of Broadway, in Cincinnati. 

 The work marked A is wholly in Fairfield Township, while the township 

 line passes through the center of the smallest circle, marked B. The 

 same line passes on a fraction of the wall of the largest circle, C. On the 

 summit of the hill, Fairfield Township, section 15, is a mound composed 

 of yellow clay, about 5 feet high, from the top of which a commanding 

 ^-iew of the surrounding country may be obtained. It probably belongs 

 to that class of mounds known as signal stations. It would be impos- 

 sible to tell the original height of this tumulus. The plow for fifty-two 

 successive years has accomplished all this destruction. 



James McBride came to this county in the year 1808; and, as he 

 early took an kiterest in antiquities, it is probable he saw these works 

 before the forest trees had been cut away. He and John TV". Erwin sur- 

 veyed the works May 7, 1842. The following is a verbatim copy of Mr. 

 McBride's description: 



-'■ Saturday May 7, 1842. — "Went, in company with John TV. Erwin, 

 civil engineer, and James McBride, jr., to an ancient work in Butler 

 County, Ohio, six miles southeast from the town of Hamilton, on the 

 lands of James Beaty. The work is situated principally on section 

 Xo. 9, town 3, range 2, ^[. E., about 30 poles south of the K TV. cor- 

 ner of the section. On measuring the main part of the work it was 

 found to be a true circle 3 ch. 5 links in diameter. The ground was 

 cleared some 14 or 15 years ago, and has been cultivated since that time, 

 consequently the height of the embankment has been much reduced. 

 Previous to cultivation the embankment was fully three feet high above 

 the natural surface of the ground. Inside of the embankment was a 

 ditch two feet deep, making a perpendicular height of about 5 feet from 

 the bottom of the ditch to the top of the bank. 



