86 ANTIQUITIES IN TENNESSEE. 



as will be seen from the following measurements of one from a stone grave, on the 

 banks of Big Harpeth, within the line of works at Old Town : internal capacity, 

 79 cubic inches; longitudinal diameter, 6.1 inches; parietal diameter, 5.8 inches; 

 frontal diameter, 4.6 inches; vertical diameter, 5.5 inches; intermastoid arch, 15 

 inches; intermastoid line, 4.8 inches; occipito-frontal arch, 13.4 inches; horizontal 

 periphery, 18.9 inches. 



The examination of the crania from the stone graves of Old Town in like 

 manner sustained the observation that the occipital flattening presented various 

 degrees, and Avas scarcely greater in many crania than what might have resulted 

 from the pressure of the mere weight of the infant's head resting continuously on 

 a comparatively hard surface, as in the pappoose case of the North American 

 Indians. 



I caused sections to be made of both the pyramidal mounds standing in the 

 portion of the inclosure nearest the spring and running brook, and within thirty 

 feet of each other ; the sections were each about 45 feet in length, 5 feet in width, 

 and 12 feet deep. 



The internal structure of these mounds was similar to that of the pyramidal 

 mound within the earthwork on the West Harpeth, on the land of Mr. Huglies. 

 It appears that a quantity of earth, about one-third of the height of the mound 

 after its final completion, was thrown up on the original surface of the earth, and 

 carefully levelled. Hot fires were kept constantly burning on this altar (?), the 

 heat of which was suflicient to bake and redden the earth for some inches below. 

 Upon the surface of the altar, which contained ashes and charcoal and fragments 

 of pottery, another layer of earth Avas placed, and fire again kindled upon this 

 new level; and thus, finally, the mound was elevated to the present proportions. 

 Pieces of earthenware were scattered through the different layers of the two 

 mounds, and in the larger one an earthenware vessel of considerable size was 

 exhumed. In one portion a collection of gravel mingled with fragments of 

 pottery two feet in diameter was observed. 



Upon the sides of the lesser mound several small stone graves were discovered. 

 In 1852, a schoolhouse was erected on the summit of the largest mound, and in 

 levelling and digging the foundution numerous stone graves were said to have been 

 opened. 



It would appear, therefore, that these mounds, which were first used for 

 religious purposes, for sacrifices, for the preservation of the sacred fire, or as sites 

 of temples, were after their completion used also as burial mounds. 



The proprietor of the mounds and earthworks stated that six years before my 

 explorations an elm tree, twelve feet in circumference just above the roots, stood on 

 the largest mound. I examined the section of a portion of this tree, extending 

 from the centre to within about a foot of the circumference, and it contained 160 

 rings. Judging from^this block the age of the tree must have been more than 

 two hundred and fifty years. 



Numerous relics have been discovered from time to time, in and around Old 

 Town, but, as far as I could learn, no metallic implements, coins, or utensils of 



