THOMAS.] OHIO. 443 



of the mouud was an oval pit (I) 8 feet long, 5 feet wide, and 2 feet 

 deep. This liad been dug in the natural soil and was filled with clean 

 wood ashes. At its northeast corner lay a celt, and immediately east 

 of it was a large sandstone, a good load for two men, that had been 

 brought from the hills south of the mound. This stone bore marks of 

 fire, lay with the weathered side up, and was covered to the depth of 

 3 inches by the gravel in which it was embedded. At 10 feet from the 

 southern edge of the mound was a basin-shaped iiit 3 feet in diameter 

 and 2 feet deep. This was lined or paved with bowlders, chiefly water- 

 worn. For a foot down from the surface the ground (indicated by the 

 dotted circle «) had been burned. A layer of ashes (2, B and C) 9 inches 

 thick had accumulated over the greater portion of the surface inclosed 

 by the .stone wall, tilling and covering the pit (1) on the western side 

 and extending to the edge of the pit (10) on the southern side. Over 

 the central portion of this layer of ashes was a conical heap of gravel 

 15 feet in diameter and 18 inches thick at the center (No. 3, B and C), 

 then a stratum of ashes 6 to 9 inches thick (4), next a layer of blue 

 clay mixed with ashes (5) varying in thickness from 2 to 3 feet, and 

 over the whole a covering of surface soil (6). In section C, 7 indicates 

 a small streak of surface soil ; 8, a small mass of burned clay ; and 11, 

 a small deposit of gravel. No human bones were found, except the 

 fragment of a lower jaw. 



As the position of this mound was so favorable for a beacon station 

 and lookout, there can be little doubt that it was intended for this 

 purpose. A beautiful valley, a mile in width and covered with a rich 

 productive soil, extends for miles along the creek on either side. A 

 light at this point would be visible not only to dwellers in the valley, 

 but at all points on the surrounding hills. It is well known that the 

 valley was a favorite spot with the Indians. The old Indian town of 

 Minnecoosa was situated in it immediately below the promontory. Mr. 

 Staats states that when he came here, more than fifty years ago, there 

 was no timber on the bottoms or on the terrace, all having been (;ut 

 down by the Indians "to give them a better chance to watch the game 

 and note the movements of their enemies," and doubtless also for cul- 

 tivation, as their food was partly obtained in this manner. 



THE HAMMOND MOUND. 



This is a small, conical mound located on the laud of Mr. Hammond, 

 in Sec. 3, T. 36, E. 10, Butler towushii), about a mile west of the Staats 

 mound. It is on a terrace 20 feet higher than the bottom land of the 

 valley aiid at present is 45 feet in diameter and 4 feet high, though Mr. 

 Hammond says that when he first saw it it was fully twice as high, 

 pointed at the top, not over 35 feet in diameter, and with two large oak 

 trees growing on its top. The central core consisted of soil which must 

 have been brought from the bottom land. This was covered by a foot 

 of yellow clay, like that found on the terrace. The original surface of 



