166 Notice of an Ancient Mound. 
acid ; the solution affords a precipitate by oxalate of ammo- 
nia, and by pure ammonia—hence it consists of phosphate 
of lime and animal matter. 
aie 
Art. XIII].—Notice of an ancient Mound, near Wheel- 
ing, Virginia ; by S. Morton. 
To the Editor. 
Wuee ine, Aug. 7th, 1822. 
My Dear Sir, . 
Since I attended your lectures, | have resided at Whee- 
ling, Virginia, within twelve miles of the Great Mound, 
at Grave Creek, on the Ohio river. A few weeks since, 
Thad the curiosity to measure this remarkable monument 
of antiquity, and as the following results, with a genera 
description of the mound, may not be uninteresting to 
you, I therefore humbly submit them. J. Morton. 
The plain on which this mound is situated, extends back 
from the Ohio river about a mile and a half, is of a semi- 
circular form, open towards the river, but enclosed on its 
back part by high hills. It is nearly level, forming a beau- 
tiful site for atown. The soil is a yellowish loam, mixed 
with a small portion of clay; it is at present, rather un- 
productive, having been nearly exhausted of the vegetable 
mould by several years cultivation. The principal mo 
stands about an eighth of a mile from the river, nearly im 
the centre of the plain, from northto south. The form of 
this remarkable tumulus is nearly a circle, at its base, Con” . 
verging gradually like a cone, but terminating abruptly. 
he circumference at its base, is about two hundred and 
fifty yards. The summit is sunk like a basin, making a di- 
ameter from verge to verge, of about twenty yards. Judg- 
ing from this circumstance, it has evidently been much 
higher than at present, but this is also evinced by the im- 
mense quantity of soil about its base, which has been wash- 
ed from its sides by the rains of ages. Its perpendicular 
height, is now nearly seventy feet; the slope from base to 
summit, or verge of the basin, measures about one hun- 
dred and twenty-four. From this sunken appearance of 
