A Pre-Hisforic Indian Village — Pettigrew. 349 



Nelson. These last two pieces have been plowed over and the 

 stones which composed the "Hut circles" have been picked up and 

 carried away. To the southwest across the railroad track, the 

 fields have all been plowed over, yet, for a mile, scattered here and 

 there, are the mounds plainly to be seen, and every year as the 

 fields are plowed over, a fresh lot of stone implements, such as 

 mauls or hammers, axes and grinding stones are brought to the 

 surface. On the tract owned by Mr. Peterson, near the railroad 

 track, earthworks are plainly traceable, enclosing about ten acres ; 

 inside of the circle stretches a trench in places two feet deep, with 

 breast-works made on the outside, and about the same in height. 

 At the north side of this circle and composing a part of the em- 

 bankment, is a mound about thirty feet across, and four feet high. 

 Several years ago this mound was opened, and a skeleton of a 

 man seven feet in length was taken out. Mr. Peterson says there 

 must have been a president buried there. To the east, about eighty 

 rods are the hills, which are steep and high. On the summit of 

 the two highest, which hold a commanding position, overlooking 

 the country for many miles, are seven mounds, where the faithful 

 sentinels or members of their families were buried. Several years 

 ago, Mr. Iverson says, two of these mounds were dug into and 

 several skeletons of human beings were found, also two stone 

 axes. Recent excavations in the same mounds have revealed noth- 

 ing except a few bones. 



To the northwest of the village, about one mile, the bluffs are 

 very steep, and hard to climb. On the summit, at the highest 

 point of a ridge which bears northwest and southeast, we come 

 to some more mounds. The first one is, or was, sixty feet across 

 and five feet high ; extending along the ridge are twenty-one more 

 smaller mounds. The first one and four others were opened by 

 me and proved very interesting. A person standing upon this 

 ridge, can see in all directions for miles away. The view of the 

 winding river, skirted with timber, and the undulating prairie, 

 affording an unobstructed vision for miles in all directions, is 

 truly a handsome picture. These two high points were where 

 the scouts and sentinels were stationed with their families, and 

 kept faithful watch both by night and by day, and if game should 

 be seen, appropriate signals were given, and if the enemy should 

 appear, timely warning was also sent to the villagers below. A 

 deep worn pathway leads direct from these mounds down the hill- 



