FOWKE] EXPLORATIONS IN RED RIVER VALLEY 413 
than the water and mud on either side of it. Its general direction 
is south 20 west. At 170 feet from the center of the gateway it con- 
nects with an embankment which is practically circular except on 
the side toward A, where it extends in a straight line for several 
rods along the outer edge of the moat. This part, which is still 
covered with timber, is 20 feet wide at the base and 2 feet high, 
which figure would probably apply to the entire embankment as 
it was when completed. Most of it, however, is now entirely leveled 
and can be traced only by the color of the earth where it stood. The 
diameter is about 320 feet; the causeway joins it at the western end 
of the straight side, almost exactly north of the center of the circle. 
Besides these three inclosed areas, there are eight lodge sites 
which will be again mentioned on a future page. 
There are also twenty mounds, which will now be described, begin- 
ning with the one farthest to the south, which will be designated 
as Mound 1. The others will be numbered consecutively, as they 
occur. 
Mounp 1.—This lies 2,000 feet west of south from the southern 
extremity of inclosure A. A view, not very distinct, is given in 
Plate 69, a. It is 600 feet west of the river bluff and the same dis- 
tance north of an extensive bayou which can not be crossed on foot 
except over a bar at its outlet when the water is low. Beyond the 
bayou, to the south, there is no other mound for at least 2 miles; 
so Mound 1 may be regarded as the initial structure of this entire 
group. Numerous ravines have cut their way back from the streams 
into the upland, both from Old River and from the bayou, the long- 
est having its head within 100 feet of the mound. It is clear that at 
one time there was much more land in both these directions than is the 
case at present. 
The mound is remarkably symmetrical; the measurements of the 
four sides, at the base, are 82, 92, 83, and 95 feet; at the top, 46, 47, 
46, and 51 feet. These distances are between the points where 
straight lines along the edges would intersect; but they vary a little 
from the original dimensions as there has been some alteration 
of form from superficial erosion. The elevation at the highest point 
is 1714 feet. The top is not quite flat, there being a slight slope from 
the summit toward every side. Probably this was intentional on 
the part of the builders to secure good drainage. 
Mownp 2.—For a time it was difficult to decide whether this struc- 
ture is a natural formation or an artificial creation. The outline 
of the base is so irregular and the elevation of the entire structure 
so uneven that it seemed to be only an outlier left from a general 
lowering of the surrounding area. (Pl. 66, ¢.) On the other hand, 
there is no other such hillock in the region; it contains a great pro- 
