CHAPTER VllJ. 



EARTHWORKS — TEMPLE MOUNDS. 



r.'l .— TERR ACED MOUND. 



These mounds are distinguished by their great regularity of form and general 

 large dimensions. They occur most usually Avithin, but sometimes without, the 

 walls of enclosures. They consist chiefly of pyramidal structures, truncated, and 

 generally having graded avenues to their tops. In some instances they are terraced, 

 or have successive stages. But whatever their form, whether round, oval, octan- 

 gular, square, or oblong, they have invariably flat or level tops, of greater or less 

 area. Examples are known in which, although but a few feet in elevation, they 

 cover several acres of ground ; in which cases they are commonly called " plat- 

 forms." 



Mounds of this class are not numerous in Ohio, and it is beUeved are only found 

 at Marietta, Newark, Portsmouth, and in the vicinity of Chillicothe. These are 

 all described, and their predominant features illustrated, in the accounts of the 

 works at the several points where they occur, to which attention is directed. 

 (See Plates XVIII, XXV, XXVI.) Those at Marietta are situated within an 

 enclosure ; those at Newark and near Chillicothe, in close connection with 

 small circles upon which they seem to have some degree of dependence. So 

 far as ascertained, they cover no remains, and seem obviously designed as the 

 sites of temples or of other structures which have passed away, or as " high places " 

 for the performance of certain ceremonies. The likeness which they bear to the 

 Teocallis of Mexico is striking, and suggestive of their probable pui-poses. 



Ill addition to (he pyramidal structures lieie noticed, there are others .soiiiovliat 



