106 MOUND EXPLORATIONS. 



lioint. The slope on which this work is situated, like that at the pot- 

 tery circle, is considerable, but very smooth and even. The location is 

 a good one for defense and was in all probability selected by the ancient 

 people who erected the works on this account. 



The most singular parts of the works at this place are three stone 

 structures, to which the name " furnaces " has been applied by the peo- 

 ple of this locality. One of these was found in a small mound within 

 the inclosure (marked A in Fig. 49) and two not in mounds, outside 

 and about 80 or 90 paces from the northwestern part of the circle. 

 Light traces of those outside of the wall remain, while of that in the 

 inclosed mound ouly about 1 foot of the wall was visible. But Mr. 

 Hays, who has owned and occupied the land for twenty-one years and 

 since it was first opened for cultivation, gave the following information 

 in regard to them: The one in mound A, and the other, not shown in 

 the figure, were each 18 feet long, each formed of two parallel walls 

 about 3 feet high and 3 feet apart, composed of flat sandstones (yet to 

 be seen close by), roughly laid up, and gradually drawn in near the top 

 until one layer would cover the opening left in the top near that end. 

 The inner stones stood fire well, as shown by the indications on them. 



Mound A in the circle is 24 feet in diameter, and now only about 1 

 foot high. Fragments of pottery, stone chips, Unio shells, and jneces 

 of bone are still abundant in and about the work, and especially among 

 the stones in the mound. 



fish's mounds. 



These are situated on the lauds owned by Mr. Fish, near the Missis- 

 sippi river, a short distance below the point where the Little Iowa joins 

 it. Those of one group are placed along the crest of a ridge running 

 parallel with the river, and about one-fourth of a mile therefrom. They 

 number about 30 ; circular in form, and varying from 20 to 40 feet in 

 diameter. One siugulai' feature was observed; those on the higher 

 and sandy ground having a core of clay about the same size and form 

 as those on the firm clay portion of the ridge, though to the latter a 

 layer of several feet of sand was added, making them appear much 

 larger and more recent than the others; yet upon opening the two 

 classes, the contents, consisting of decaying human bones, fragments 

 of pottery, and rude stone implements, showed no perceptible differ- 

 ences. 



In one of the mounds opened two skeletons were found, lying hori- 

 zontally side by side, fsicing each other. They were at the base of the 

 hard clay core, which seemed to have formed a perfect roof, while the 

 sand, upon a sharp ridge, formed the flooring, thus protecting them 

 from moistui-e and i^reserving them longer from decay than where less 

 favorably situated; the skulls were obtained almost uninjured. 



Many mounds similar to these were found along the foothills of these 

 rocky bluffs. 



