REMARKS. oO 
The Hopeton works are situated close to the foot of a bluff which over- 
looks the whole area that they embrace. Such a location is not con- 
sistent with European ideas of a defensive position. ‘ 
The great age that has been attributed to them is simply theory 
without any adequate facts upon which to base it. The suggestion 
that the works are found only on the older terraces, far above overtlow, 
is contradicted by the evidence, for the works along Paint Creek are, in 
truth, on the valley level, and some of them are subject to overflow from 
the creek. A part of the Seip inclosure (Anc. Mon., pl. xx1, No. 2) is 
builtin a washout from the creek, which is certainly an indication that 
its age is not very great. The facts brought out by the exploration 
of the “ Pyramidal Mound” of the Baum works as heretofore given, 
are worthy of consideration in this connection as indicating the age of 
the structure. It is true that the connection of the mound with the 
inclosureis not absolutely established ; yet their relation to each other 
is suchas to raise a strong presumption that they belong to the same 
age and were built by one people. The condition of the inclosures, 
where they are not injured by the plow, is not calculated to inspire the 
observer with the idea that they belong to a very remote antiquity ; 
in fact their appearance—as for example the Fair-Ground Cirele—con- 
stantly impresses the idea upon the mind that they are of comparatively 
recent date. 
The discovery in the mounds of this section, presumably of the same 
age, of numerous indications of contact with Europeans, which can not 
be mentioned here, must also be allowed to have some bearing upon the 
question of the age of these works. 
That Indians ean lay out true circles of moderate size will be ad- 
mitted; that they are less able now to perform many things which ne- 
cessity formerly compelled them to practice must also be admitted. No 
valid reason can be presented why Indians, taught by necessity and 
practice, could not lay off by the eye and by means at hand figures 
with which they were familiar more correctly than the white man with- 
out instruments. 
11867——3 
