THOMAS] ' MISSISSIPPI. 265 



Middletou and Dr. Palmer express the opinion very confidently that 

 it is chiefly a natnral formation. This is based upon the following 

 facts: The su<lden bend and enhirgement of the ridge at this i>oint; 

 the fact that natural knolls, or mound-like elevations, are not uncom- 

 mon on the ridges of this section, as for example, the one near by at 

 /; and the evidence obtained by excavating, which, so far as it was 

 carried, sustains this view. They think it quite jn-obable that the orig- 

 inal form was artificially modified, so as to make the top more uniformly 

 level and the margins more abrnpt than they were formed bj' nature. 



At the eastern end of this platform, descending northward, is an old 

 washout or gully. The surface contour, running east and west, across 

 the platform, the mounds, and this gully from / to in is shown in the 

 section at A, and that running north and south from p to q at B; a 

 section of the ridge at ;• to .« is shown at G. 



The shape and present c(mdition of the platform and the mounds on 

 it are shown in PI. xiv, 2. The extreme length from base to base varies 

 but slightly from 700 feet; the greatest width, which is near the west 

 end, is about r»3() feet ; width at the east end, 330 feet. The extreme 

 length of the surface area is about 590 feet; the width near the west 

 end, 400 feet. The height varies from 21 to 45 feet, the northern and 

 northwestern portion standing higher above the base'or general slope of 

 the ridge than the southern and eastern. The surface is comijaratively 

 level, tliough there ai'e some depressions in the central portion, from 

 which it is probable dirt was taken to be used in l)uilding the mounds. 



Although the base has a somewhat regular outline, the margin of the 

 upper surface is so cut and gashed by sharp gulleys and indentations 

 as to give scarcely any indications of its original form. 



The surface has been under cultivation for many years, biit the slopes 

 of the sides are covered with thick growths of cane, locnst, sedge, and 

 briars. The soil, which is similar to that of the surrounding area, con- 

 sists of loam and red clay, mixed somewhat with sand, which, though 

 apparently adhesive, wears away rapidly under the action of water 

 where the surface is abraded and the vegetation removed. The two 

 chief gullies, the imc at the northwest corner and the other near the 

 southeast corner, which have evidently been formed by washing, are 

 probably largely due to the fact that they are the lines of drainage and 

 are the i)oints long used as the places of ascent and descent for per- 

 sons, teams, and stock. 



There are at present four mounds on this elevated area, though, 

 according to S(iuier and Davis\ there were formerly eleven. Of the 

 fom- which remain, one is placed, as these authors state, about the 

 middle of each end, that is, at the east and west margins. The 

 other two are placed near the middle of the north and south sides. Of 

 the other seven, no satisfactory traces were found by Mr. Middleton, 

 but Dr. Palmer, who visited them three years before, thought he saw 



'Am-. Mou., p. lis. 



