THE CHEROKEES PROBABLY MOUND-BUILDERS. 
In 1876, Prof. Lucien Carr, assistant curator of the Peabody Museum, 
opened a mound in Lee County, Virginia, in which he made certain dis- 
eoveries which, with the form of the mound and the historical data, led 
him to the conclusion that it was the work of the Cherokees. 
This monument, as he informs us, was a truncated oval, the level 
space on the top measuring 40 feet in length by 15 in width. 
At the distance of 8 feet from the brow of the mound, on the slope, there were 
found buried in the earth the decaying stumps of a series of cedar posts, which I 
was informed by Mr. Ely [the owner] at one time completely encircled it. He also 
told me that at every plowing he struck more or less of these posts, and, on digging 
for them, some six or seven were found at different places, and in such order as showed 
that they had been placed in the earth at regular intervals and according to a defi- 
nite plan. On the top, in the line of the greatest diameter and near the center of 
the mound, another and a larger post or column, also of cedar, was found.' 
Quoting Bartram’s description (given below) of the council house of 
the Cherokees in the town of Cowe, he coneludes, and I think correctly, 
that this mound was the site of a similar building. 
Bartram’s description is as follows : 
The Council or Town House is a large rotunda, capanle of accommodating several 
hundred people. It stands on the top of an ancient artificial mount of earth of about 
20 feet perpendicular and the rotunda on the top of if, being above 30 feet more, 
gives the whole fabric an elevation of about 60 feet from the common surface of the 
ground. But it may be proper to observe that this mount on whicb the rotunda 
stands is of a much ancienter date than the building, and perhaps was raised for an- 
other purpose. ‘The Cherokees themselves are as ignorant as we are by what people 
or for what purpose these artificial hills were raised. * * * 
The rotunda is constructed after the following manner: They first fix iu the ground 
a circular range of posts or trunks of trees, about 6 feet high, at eqnal distances, 
which are notched at top to receive into them, from one to another, a range of 
beams or wall plates. Within this is another circular order of very large and strong 
pillars, above 12 feet high, notched in like mauner at top to receive another range 
of wall-plates, and within this is yet another or third range of stronger and higher 
pillars, but fewer in number, and standing ata greater distance from each other; 
and, lastly, in the center stands a very strong pillar, which forms the pinnacle of the 
building, and to which the rafters center at top; these rafters are strengthened and 
bound together by cross-beams and laths, which sustain the roof or covering, which 
is a layer of bark neatly placed and tight enough to exclude the rain, and sometimes 
they cast a thin superficies of earth over all. 
There is but one large door, which serves at the same time to admit light from 
without and the smoke to escape when a fire is kindled; but as there is but a sinall 
fire kept, sufficient to give light at night, and that fed with dry, small, sound wood, 
divested of its bark, there is but little smoke; all around the inside of the building, 

‘Tenth Report Peabody Museum, p. 75. 2Travels, p. 365. 
