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SCIENCE. 



[Vol. XV. No. 385 



stands alone on a gentle slope; and, having been in cultiva- 

 tion for many years, the wear and tear of the plough and 

 the gradual weathering-away of the summit made it impos- 

 sible to get at its exact measurements. A careful examina- 

 tion, however, showed it to be about three hundred feet in 

 circumference at the base, and nineteen feet in height. . . . 

 On the top was a level space, oval in shape, the diameters 

 being respectively about fifteen and forty feet. At a dis- 

 tance of eight or ten 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, at one time completely encircled it. He also told 

 me that at every ploughing 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 definite plan. On the top, in the line of the 

 greatest diameter, and near the centre of the mound, another 

 and larger post or column, also of cedar, was found. . . . 

 The location and regularity of these posts, and their position 

 with reference to the central column, would seem to show 

 that the summit of the mound at one time had been occu- 

 pied by some sort of a building, possibly a rotunda or coun- 

 cil-chamber, as the ground plan answers to the description 

 of one which Bartram found in the town of Cowe on the 

 ' Tanase ' River among the Cherokees, the very people who 

 formerly held all this section of country.'' 



In the mound, and within the circle of posts, several 

 skeletons were found placed irregularly and at diS'erent 

 depths, as in the case of the mound opened by Mr. Reynolds. 

 Mr. Carr further remarks that "there were found scattered 

 about everywhere, throughout the whole of the upper half 

 of the excavation, in different places and at various depths, 

 beds of ashes, burnt earth, and charcoal, — usually cedar or 

 chestnut, — sometimes one above and overlapping the other, 

 with an intervening stratum of earth of greater or less 

 thickness." 



This is an important and interesting fact in camparing 

 the works of the different sections alluded to. 



Indications of similar structures were found in some three 

 or four mounds explored by the bureau assistants in East 

 Tennessee. In one case the series of posts was found at 

 considerable depth, showing that earth had been added sub- 

 sequent to its erection. 



Adair says that "every town has a large edifice which 

 with propriety may be called the mountain house in com- 

 parison of those already described. But the only difference 

 between it and the winter house or stove is in its dimensions 

 and application. It is usually built on the top of a hill, and 

 in that separate and imperial state-house the old beloved men 

 and head warriors meet on material business, or to divert 

 themselves and feast and dance with the rest of the 

 people." 



The winter houses referred to were, according to his state- 

 ment, made as follows: a sufficient number of strong, 

 forked posts were fixed deep in the ground " at a propor- 

 tional distance, in a circular form, all of an equal height, 

 about five or six feet above the surface of the ground ; above 

 these they tie large pieces of the heart of white oak. . . . 

 In the middle of the fabric they fix very deep in the ground 

 four large pine posts in a quadrangular form." 



According to Mr. Mooney, — who has furnished the writer 

 with some particulars on the subject in addition to what are 

 found in his paper heretofore mentioned, — on account of the 

 sanctity attached to the location in the minds of the people, 

 a new town-house was usually built upon the site of the old 

 one. The Cherokee town-houses were necessarily located in 

 the immediate vicinity of a stream, and where there was 

 about it a level area. The reasons for this were (1) that the 

 dances were held around and about these public houses, fre- 

 quently beginning inside, and ending on the level area 

 around them; and (2) ceremonial bathing formed an im- 

 portant part of the proceedings connected with their sacred 

 dances, such as the green-corn dance and the' medicine 

 dance, where the whole body of the performers came out of 

 the town-house to the water, and, after certain ablutions, 

 returned thereto. It was necessary, therefore, that the 

 building should be near a stream. As the level areas in 

 their narrow mountain valleys are often overflowed, it is 

 quite probable that in order to place these sacred houses 

 above the floods, they were, as stated in tradition, located on 

 artificial mounds. " Moreover," adds Mr. Mooney, " the 

 town-house was the depository of numerous ceremonial ob- 

 jects which could not readily be removed in a sudden emer- 

 gency. And, as it is said traditionally that a sacred fire 

 was kept burning on a peculiar hearth excavated in the cen- 

 tre of the earthen floor, this could not be removed from the 

 hearth-place, and hence some provision for its protection was 

 necessary." 



Whatever may be the opinion entertained in regard to the 

 relation of the mound-builders of the different sections to 

 each other, or be thought of Mr. Mooney's suggestions, it 

 must be admitted that the above statement gives a satisfac- 

 tory reason for placing the pyramidal mound of the Baum 

 Works, Ohio, on the lower level near the creek, rather than 

 on the higher level occupied by the square and circle. 



In confirmation of Mr. Mooney's statement, we find the 

 following in Adair's " History." Speaking of the Chero- 

 kees, he says, " Their towns are always close to some river 

 or creek, as there the land is commonly very level and fer- 

 tile, on account of the frequent washings off the mountains, 

 and the moisture it receives from the waters that run 

 through their fields. And such a situation enables them to 

 perform the ablutions connected with their religious worship." 



Another respect in which the Kanawha works resemble 

 those of Ohio is the presence among them of enclosures, some 

 of which are approximately true circles. There is also 

 among the former a true " hill-fort," located on the top of a 

 bold and partially isolated headland, overlooking the valley 

 for some miles up and down the river. 



We have now, as before stated, travelled back along the 

 path of migration to the Ohio region, the mound testimony 

 agreeing substantially at every step with the traditions. As 

 we now enter a well-known field which has been somewhat 

 thoroughly cultivated by archaeologists, and which is con- 

 sidered, in the minds of many antiquarians, sacred ground, 

 we are aware that we must move with cautious steps, as any 

 attempt to bring forward a new theory in regard to the 

 ancient works of this region is attended with more than ordi- 

 nary risk. It will therefore be appropriate to introduce at 

 this point some general considerations which have a bearing 

 on the questions at issue. 



