62 A N C I E N T M N U M E N T S . 



a gateway opening to it from the north. The ditch dips from the base of the 

 mound, which is but three feet high by thirty feet base. Ahnost touching the circle 

 enclosing the mound, is the horn of a crescent work, having a chord of one hundred 

 and thirty-two feet. Sixty-six feet distant, in the same direction, is still another 

 crescent, which terminates in a mound of sacrifice, seven feet high by forty-five feet 

 base, which commands the entire group of works. This mound was carefully opened 

 in October, 1845. The following passages, from the notes taken on the occasion, 

 may not be out of place here. They will prove- more intelligible to the reader, 

 after an examination of the chapters on Mounds. 



The mound is composed of clay. A simple shaft was sunk from the apex, five 

 feet square. About three feet below the surface, upon the northern side of the 

 excavation, was found a layer of wood coals, three or four inches in thickness, which 

 extended within range of the excavation perhaps a foot, where it was broken up and 

 intermixed with the clay composing the mound ; some fragments were found within 

 a few inches of the surface. From this fact it was inferred that the mound had 

 been disturbed since its erection, — with what correctness will be seen in the sequel. 

 [n this layer of charcoal was found a human skeleton, much decayed, the skull and 

 jaws crushed. Proceeding downwards, the earth below the unbroken charcoal was 

 homogeneous, while towards the centre of the mound it was intermixed with detached 

 coals. About seven feet beneath the surface of the mound, and probably a little below 

 the surface of the adjacent plain, and in the centre of the excavation, were found 

 three skeletons, in a very good state of preservation. The earth above them was 

 mingled with coals, and also with fragments of hard-burned clay, which were 

 immediately recognised as portions of the " altar " peculiar to a certain class of 

 mounds devoted to religious purposes. It was clear that the mound had been 

 opened, and its structure broken up, to afford the rite of sepulture to the 

 skeletons here found ; and it was concluded from this fact, as well as from their 

 well-preserved condition, that the remains were those of the later Indians, who 

 frequently buried in the mounds. The skeletons were placed side by side, with 

 their heads towards the east. But one circumstance weighs against the above 

 conclusion, and that is the depth at which the skeletons were deposited. The 

 modern Indians bury in shallow graves. 



Further examination disclosed the remains of the altar, about one third of which 

 remained entire. Upon it were found a number of relics, clearly pertaining to the 

 mound-builders. 



The character of the remaining works is sufficiently apparent, without further 

 explanation. That they were not designed for defence is obvious, and that they 

 were devoted to religious rites is more than probable. They may have answered a 

 double purpose, and may have been used for the celebration of games, of which we 

 can have no definite conception. It has been suggested that the enclosure A, as 

 also B and C, were occupied by structures, temples perhaps, which in the lapse of 

 time have disappeared. Similar groups are frequent, — indeed, small circles, 

 resembling those here represented, constitute, in the Scioto valley, by far the most 

 numerous class of remains. They seldom occur singly, but generally in connec- 

 tion with several others of the same description, and accompanied by one or more 



