264 MOUND EXPLORATIONS. 



The topographical features of this section are similar to those of other 

 counties bordering on this portion of the river, consisting of the bot- 

 toms along the Mississippi and the uplands which extend back from 

 these and form the general surface of the state. The western border 

 of these uplands, where they join the bottoms, terminates in somewhat 

 abrupt descents to which the term "bluffs " has been applied. In Adams 

 county the bottoms are from 1 to 3 miles wide north of Natchez, which 

 is the only portion of the county it is necessary to refer to. About a mile 

 above Natchez the Mississippi river, bending eastward, strikes the foot 

 of the bluffs, hugs them for a short distance below, and again recedes. 



The general level of the uplands, some 200 or 250 feet above the 

 bottoms, is broken by the valleys of numerous creeks and their 

 branches, through which the water of the upper area finds its way to 

 the Mississippi. Among the smaller streams of this immediate section 

 is one known locally as Dunbare creek, which runs westward to the 

 Mississii)pi. The country about the headwaters of this creek, where 

 the little streams which form its branches have cut ravines, is some- 

 what rough and broken up into ridges, spurs, and knolls. It is here that 

 the works mentioned are situated, about a mile northwest of the site 

 of the old village of Selsertown, 7 miles a little west of north from 

 Washington, and 2 miles northwest of the railroad station (Stanton). 



As will be observed by reference to PI. xiv, 1, the platform, or oblong 

 elevation on which the mounds stand, is located on a rather narrow 

 ridge which, starting from the higher level on the east, slopes down- 

 ward gradually but irregularly toward the west, fading out in an 

 exi)ansion on the lower level of the creek valley a little southwest of 

 the platform. On the north is the valley of a small creek running 

 westward; on the south is another narrow valley or ravine in which is 

 a small branch of Dunbare creek, running southwest. This ridge, as 

 will be seen by reference to the figure, is quite irregular as to its sur- 

 face, course, and form. Coming westward from the eastern extremity 

 the line of highest elevation bends southward by /(, terminating appar- 

 ently in a spur, which was not followed out. 



Following the line of the road, the descent — i to I; from the upper 

 level h to the lower level g, of the ridge — is about 40 feet and somewhat 

 abrupt. From fc to the platform, the top of the ridge, with the excep- 

 tion of the rise at /, is nearly level lengthwise — that is to say, along 

 the line of the road. The rise at / is an elongate oval knoll, from 12 

 to 15 feet high, and of the comparative size shown in the figure. As it 

 is beyond all question a natural formation, no special measurement of 

 it was made. 



At the point occupied by the platform there is a sudden bend and ex- 

 pansion of the ridge, though the crest is near the south margin, the line 

 running inside (north) of, but near, the southern edge of the platform. 



Although the term " platform " has been irsed here to indicate this 

 somewhat remarkable elevation on which the mouiuls are placed, Mr. 



