56 



ANTIQUITIES IN TENNESSEE. 



CHAPTER IV. 



EARTHWORKS O^SI THE BIG HARPETH RIVER. 



On the southwestern side of Big Harpeth River, about two and a half miles 

 from Franklin, Tennessee, on the plantation of General M. F. De Graffenreid, the 

 vestiges of an ancient ditch and embankment are still visible, inclosing about thirty- 

 two acres of land. 



The earthwork, which is 3800 feet in length, is in tlie form of a crescent or 

 semicircle, with the ends resting on an impassable, almost perpendicular bluff of 

 the river, rising about 40 feet from the water's edge. The land slopes gradually 

 away from the earthwork. The situation was admirably chosen for defence and for 

 the maintenance of a protracted siege, as there is an abundant supply of drinking 

 water, and the soil of the inclosure is of great fertility. Although the site of this 

 ancient town has been under cultivation for a number of years, it still yields abund- 

 ant crops of corn and cotton. 



AVithin the earthworks are nine mounds ; the largest, marked A in the following 

 plan, figure 23, resembling a parallelogram, the sides and angles of which have been 

 rounded by the ploughshare, is 230 feet in length, 110 feet in breadth, and 16 feet 

 in height ; the remaining mounds vary from 100 to 25 feet in diameter, and from 1 

 to 4 feet in height. 



Fig. 23. 



Plan of works, ami relative position of the monnds, on the plantation of General M. P. De GraffenreiJ, on Big 

 Harpeth River, about two and a half miles from Franklin, Tenne.ssee. 



