82 



ANTIQUITIES IN TENNESSEE. 



inclosure would indicate that the work was completed more than 300 years ago; 

 how much longer it had stood, it is of course impossible to conjecture, as uo relics 

 were found which could throw any light on this interesting question. 



Earthworks at Old Town. 



The remarkable aboriginal remains known as Old Town are situated on the 

 banks of Big Harpeth River, six miles southwest of Franklin, Tennessee, and two 

 miles and three-quarters from the ancient works and mounds just described, on 

 the banks of West Ilarpcth, on the lands of Mr. Hughes. 



At Old Town, on the land owned at present by Mr. Thomas Brown, the works 

 extend in a crescent form from the steep bluffs on Big Harpeth, 2470 feet in length, 

 and inclose twelve acres. They contain two pyramidal sacrificial mounds, a small 

 circular burial mound, a large burial mound now occupied by tlie family mansion, 

 and numerous stone graves, ranging principally along the banks of the river. 



The stone graves are numerous not only within the line of Works, but also on the 

 slopes of the hills and in the low-lands for two miles around, and the general 



appearance of the surrounding lands gives evi- 

 dence of the existence in former times of a 

 large aboriginal population. 



The general plan of the aboriginal works at 

 Old Town is given in Fig. 47. 



At the present time the height of the in- 

 closing earthworks varies from two to six feet; 

 they have been much worn down by the plough- 

 share, however, and they are said to have been 

 so steep and higli thirty years ago that it was 

 impossible to ride a horse over them. 



The bluff on the river is abrupt, like that 

 included in the fortifications at General de 

 Graffenreid's on the same stream; and a fine 

 spring of water, called the Bluff Spring, issues 

 from the banks within the portion included by 

 the line of works. 



Two pyramidal mounds and a small burial 

 mound are situated in the southwestern corner of the earthworks, near a fine 

 spring, and witiiin thirty feet of each other ; the largest (A) is 112 feet in the long 

 diameter, 65 feet in the short diameter, and 11 feet high; the next in size (B) is 

 70 by 60 feet at the base, and 9 feet high ; and the small burial mound is 30 by 

 20 feet in diameter, and 2.5 feet in height. The house of Mr. Brown, located near 

 these mounds and within the line- of works, appears to have been built on a burial 

 mound, for in excavating the foundation a number of interesting relics were found, 

 and among them a vase the neck of which terminated in-two human heads. 



The burial mound is probably composed of stone graves ranged one upon 

 another as in the burial mound previously described near Brentwood. We obtained 



Plan of the works, mounds, .and stone 

 graves at Old Town. 



