296 



MOUND EXPLORATIONS. 



mounds scattered here niul tlieic tbroiifili tlic length un<l Ineailth of the Etowah and 

 OosteuauUi valleys. 



The artifiiial elevation E, lying northwest of the central grouji, is remarkable for 

 its ujierticial area, anil is completely surrounded by the moat which at that point 

 divides with a view to its inclosure. The elope of the sides of these tumuli is just 

 such as would be assumed by gradual accretions of earth successively dejiosited in 

 small (luantities from above. 



The summits of these mounds, aud the circumjacent valley for miles, have been 

 completely denuded of the original growth which overspread them in rich profusion. 

 The cont5eiiuence is, these remarkalde remains can be readily and carefully noted. 



Without c-ommeuting at i^resent upon this description, I give Col. 

 Charles Wliittlesey's account as found in the Smithsonian Report for 

 1881,' together with his illustration No. 1. (See Fig. 181.) 



Fig. 181.— Plat of Etowah group, copy ol Wliittlesi-y'8 figure No. 1. 



THE GREAT MOUND ON THE ETOWAH UIVER, GEORGIA. 



Not having seen a detailed description of this mound I made a visit to it in behalf 

 of the Western Reserve Historical Society, in May, 1871. It stands upon the north 

 Ijank of the Etowah, about 2 miles below where it is crossed by the Chattanooga and 

 Atlanta railway, near Cartersville. Its form, size, and elevation are singular and 

 imposing. It occupies the easterly point or angle of a large and luxuriant river 

 bottom, a part of which is subject to inundations. The soil is a deep, rich, black 

 loam covering several hundred acres, which has been cultiv.ated in corn and cotton 

 since the Cherokees left it, about forty years since. 



I was compelled, by bad weather, to make the survey in haste. The bearings were 

 taken with a prismatic compass, the distances measured by pacing, and the elevations 

 obtained with a pocket level. They are, therefore, subject to the corrections of future 

 surveyors. Its base covers a space of about 3 acres, and stands at a level of 23 feet 

 above low water in the river. In gre.at floods the water approaches near the mound 

 on the west, but has not been known to reach it. The body of the mound has an 

 irregular figure, as shown in the plan. It is longest on the meridian, its diameter in 



' Pp. 624-827. 



