298 MOUND EXPLORATIONS. 



northeast of A are tlio remains of four low mounds within the tlitoh near the large 

 pits. Five hnnilred yards to tlie northwest, on the edge of the second terrace, is a 

 mound which is yet 8 feet high, although it has been industriously plowed over 

 more than tliirty years. 



The place chosen by the niotmd-builders iu this case for the location 

 of their village is, as usual, oue adapted to easy cultivation and withal 

 one of real beauty. 



The river, which reaches the base of the hills above and below, here 

 makes a bend to the south, while the line of hills curves toward the 

 north, leaving a broad, fertile bottom some 3 miles long east and west 

 and a mile or more in breadth. The mounds are vi-sible from the hills 

 throughout the entire cii-cuit, rendering it easy to give notice of the 

 api)roach of an enemy from any quarter on this side of the river. 



There is little doubt, therefore, that while one object iu view in 

 selecting this locality was to obtain land close at hand suitable for cul- 

 tivation, another was, as intimated by Kev. Elias Cornelius, security 

 and means of defense against the attacks of enemies. The general plan 

 of the works, from an examination and survey made in person, assisted 

 by Mr. Eogan, iu 1885, is given in Fig. 18li. It will be seen from this 

 figure that the works at present consist of a broad, surrounding ditch, 

 flanked at two points by large excavations, six included and oue out- 

 side mound, though it is apparent from the descriptions of previous 

 visitors heretotore given and what is hereafter stated that these are not 

 all the works which formed parts of this extensive village. 



The ditch, starting at )i, on the east, 310 feet from the river and 1,140 

 feet from the nearest point of the large mound, runs northwest, gradu- 

 ally curving westward and southward so as to form an almost complete 

 semicircle, and striking the river below at p, about 870 feet from the 

 nearest point of the large mound. The distance fi-om m to p direct is 

 about 775 yards, and the length of the ditch from n to jf, following the 

 curve, about 1,0G0 yards. The greatest width of the area, that is, from 

 the river to the margin of the large excavation r, is about ISO yards, 

 the area inclosed being about 56 acres. Whether the ditch ever 

 reached the river on the east can not be determined from present indi- 

 catious. There is still a slight depression, or swale, south of the termi- 

 nation, shown at «, but this does not reach the bank. Nevertheless, 

 the plan of the works seems to require connection with the river at this 

 point, and that this was the case may be assumed. It is probable that 

 there was here a bridge or arrangement for crossing the ditch, and also 

 that it was quite narrow here to prevent the too rapid influx of water 

 from the river. A crossing point appears to have been at w, where the 

 ditch enters the large reservoir or basin. The dotted lines in the plat 

 (Fig. 182) along the break at i indicate the portion filled up by the pres- 

 ent and preceding owners in order to make a crossing for a road at 

 this point. As it approaches the large excavation r, it suddenly ex- 

 pands and increases in depth, being at the cross section 1-2, 95 feet wide 



