wo RKS O F DEFENC E. 3I 



which are explained in another chapter. At c, the outer wall appears to have 

 formerly extended down to a lower level ; but it has been much obliterated by the 

 washing of the bank. The natural banks, on the side towards the river and next 

 to Big Run, are inaccessibly steep, and between sixty and seventy feet high. 



The area, embraced within the exterior lines, is a trifle less than eighteen acres. 

 The defensive character of this work can hardly be doubted. It has been sug- 

 gested that the large mound, over which the inner wall is carried, was designed as 

 a look-out, or alarm post. This may not have been its primary, but it is not 

 impossible that such was its secondary purpose. 



PLATE XII. No. I. 



STONE WORK, ON DUCK RIVER, TENNESSEE.* 



Tm.s work is situated in Franklin county, Tennessee, at the junction of the east 

 and west branches of Duck river, and near the main road from Nashville to Win- 

 chester. 



" It includes an area of about thirty-two acres. The walls are composed of 

 stones of various sizes, collected from the surface of the surrounding country, and 

 rudely thrown together ; there is no appearance of their having been united by 

 cement, nor do they exhibit any marks of the hammer. The wall on the south is 

 covered with a layer of earth from one to two feet deep, and is about sixteen 

 feet in thickness at the base, about five feet at the top, and from eight to ten feet 

 high. 



" At the northern extremity, near the front wall, are two conical mounds of 

 stone, designated by M, M, in the plan. Each of these mounds is about six feet 

 high, and ten feet in diameter at the base ; originally they may have been of some- 

 what greater altitude, and being on the exterior of the wall, may have been intended 

 as watch towers. In the rear of the mounds is the northern wall, extending to a 

 high bank on either branch of Duck river, and opposite to a waterfall on each, of 

 ten or twelve feet in height. In the northern wall is an entrance or gateway, and 

 in the rear of the gateway are what appear to be the remains of two stone build- 



* Two plans of this work exist among the MSS. of Rafinesque, which differ slightly from each other. 

 One of them coincides, however, in all important particulars with a plan published some years ago in the 

 "Western Messenger," and has therefore been adopted as probably essentially correct. The description 

 in the " Messenger," which seems to have been written by an intelligent observer, is also adopted. It is 

 amply sustained by the account of Judge Haywood, and by other evidence, and it is tliought may be relied 

 on in all respects. 



