266 MOUND EXPLORATIONS. 



indications of other structures at points around the margin, but was 

 inclined to the opinion tliat these were house sites, as fragments of pot- 

 tery and pieces of burnt clay, often witli fluted impressions made by 

 split reeds, were found in abundance at such points. But neither 

 found any traces of a central mound, and the disposition of those 

 which remain would indicate that this central space was left unoccu])ied. 

 The wearing of the mound seems also to forbid the idea of a central 

 tumulus, as it was here the surface water seemed to collect. 



The surface of the platform is strewn with fragments of pottery. On 

 and about the smaller mounds down the northern slope, especially in 

 the gullies or washouts, jirobably brought down from the top, are num- 

 erous fragments of burnt clay. This burnt clay is not in the form of 

 bricks, nor at any point arranged in or used to form a wall. That on 

 the slopes and in the gullies ou the north side has certainly been 

 brought down ft-om the u]>per surface. It is mostly of a brick-red color 

 and bears impressions of the splitcane stamp, of which meuti(m has here- 

 tofore been made. These have probably been taken for the impressions 

 of fingers, an error which would have been easily corrected by observ- 

 ing that the curvature is outward instead of inward, as would have been 

 the case if made by the fingers. Euniiing through it, on what M^as the 

 inner side, are the 'impressions of twigs and grass stems. It is in every 

 respect similar to that observed in Arkansas, and is evidently the clay 

 which formed the plastering of the houses, as mentioned by the French 

 explorers, which, at the destruction of the houses by tire, was burned 

 to the condition in which it is now found. 



The largest of the four mounds, the one to whicli writers have gener- 

 ally referred, is that marked e at the western end of the platform. It 

 is neaily circular in form, truncated but somewhat rounded on top, the 

 slopes tolerably steep. The diameter at the base is 145 feet; the diam- 

 eter of the top averages 72 feet (the upper surface being somewhat oval) ; 

 height, 31 feet. It has been partially explored, but the result is not 

 known with certainty. The last examination was made on behalf of 

 Dr. Joseph Jones, of New Oileans, but it does not appear that he was 

 at any time present while the excavation was going on. The depth 

 reached was only 15 or 16 feet. This mound has, at some former time, 

 been under cultivation, but owing, perhajjS, to its steepness has been 

 abandoned to briars and locust trees. 



The next largest mound is the one marked/, at the eastern extremity 

 of the platform. It is somewhat irregular in form but approaches in 

 outline a semi-oval, the base resting on the margin of the platform, 

 with which the eastern side of the mound forms a continuous slope. It 

 is possible that cultivation of its surface and wearing away at the east- 

 ern end has somewhat changed the original form. The top is flat but 

 irregular, the height varying from 5 to S feet. The diameter of the 

 base east and west is. 110 feet; the greatest diameter north and south, 

 near the east margin, is about 3 feet less. 



