MyER) GORDON TOWN SITE 507 
to their being the remains of fires of no great intensity, probably not 
often used, and then for only a few hours at a time. 
It will be noted that these fires are approximately at the four 
cardinal points or four world quarters. Later in this record it appears 
that the four cardinal points or four world quarters and the spirits 
dwelling therein played an important part in the religious beliefs of 
this people. It is therefore highly probable that these four fires 
were lighted at the celebration of rites in which the four world 
quarters played a part. The appearance of the deeply burned soil 
underneath the central altar indicates fires of long continuance. 
That this was either a temple or a town house is further indicated 
by finding therein nothing which belonged exclusively to domestic 
use. Only about one-fourth as many fragments of animal bones and 
pottery were found scattered through the accumulated black loam 
which covered the ruins of this building as were found in that cover- 
ing the ruins of buildings unmistakably for domestic purposes. These 
fragments of bones and pottery were such as might accumulate from 
occasional feasts. 
OrHER TEMPLES OF THE SOUTHERN INDIANS 
A study of some of the temples seen by the earlier explorers in the 
Gulf States will aid in arriving at the probable use and appearance 
of Gordon temple. It must be borne in mind that the tribes were 
different and their structures probably more or less dissimilar. 
The temple of the Taensas in Louisiana was 30 by 12 feet. The 
well-known temple of the Natchez, a few miles from the site of the 
present city of Natchez, Miss., was about 30 by 30 feet. 
The dimensions of the Gordon temple are 46 by 33 feet. It is 
therefore larger than either of the above well-known temples. 
As an aid to getting at least an approximate idea of the use and 
appearance of the Gordon temple, Dr. John R. Swanton’s translation 
of a portion of the description by Du Pratz of the Natchez temple is 
here reproduced, with the illustration accompanying the same 
(pl. 101, a). 
It must not be supposed that the temple and its uses would be 
precisely the same among tribes so far separated and so different 
from each other as those of the Gordon site and those around Natchez. 
This temple, the front of which looks toward the rising sun, is placed on a 
mound of earth brought thither which rises about 8 feet above the natural level 
of the ground on the bank of a little river. * * * This temple measures 
about 30 feet each way. The four angle or corner posts are of the inner part of 
the cypress, which is incorruptible. These trees in their actual condition appear 
to have a diameter of a foot and a half. They rise 10 feet out of the earth and 
extend to the beginning of the roof. The Natchez state that they are as much 
in the earth as above it, a fact which must make it secure against the winds. 
The other posts are a foot in diameter and are of the same wood, having the 
