166 Notice of an Ancient Mound. 



acid J the solution affords a precipitate by oxalate of ammo- 

 nia, and by pure ammonia — hence it consists of phosphate 

 of lime and animal matter. 



Art. XIII. — Notice of an ancient Mound, near Wheel- 

 ing, Virginia ; by S. Morton. 



To the Editor. 



Wheeling, Aug. 7th, 1822. 



My Dear Sir, 



Since I attended your lectures, I have resided at Whee- 

 ling, Virginia, within twelve miles of the Great Mound, 

 at Grave Creek, on the Ohio river. A few weeks since, 

 I had the curiosity to measure this remarkable monument 

 of antiquity, and as the following results, with a general 

 description of the mound, may not be uninteresting to 

 you, I therefore humbly submit them. J. Morton. 



The plain on which this mound is situated, extends back 

 from the Ohio river about a mile and a half, is of a semi- 

 circular form, open towards the river, but enclosed on its 

 back part by high hills. It is nearly level, forming a beau- 

 tiful site for a town. The soil is a yellowish loam, mixed 

 with a small portion of clay ; it is at present, rather un- 

 productive, having been nearly exhausted of the vegetable 

 mould by several years cultivation. The principal mound 

 stands about an eighth of a mile from the river, nearly in 

 the centre of the plain, from north to south. The form of 

 this remarkable tumulus is nearly a circle, at its base, con- 

 verging gradually like a cone, but terminating abruptly. 



The circumference at its base, is about two hundred and 

 fifty yards. The summit is sunk like a basin, making a di- 

 ameter from verge to verge, of about twenty yards. Judg- 

 ing from this circumstance, it has evidently been much 

 higher than at present, but this is also evinced by the im- 

 mense quantity of soil about its base, which has been wash- 

 ed from its sides by the rains of ages. Its perpendicular 

 height, is now nearly seventy feet ; the slope from base to 

 summit, or verge of the basin, measures about one hun- 

 dred and twenty-four. From this sunken appearance of 



