ANCIEN T "WORKS NEAR ROCK 11 IVER. 57 



form. Their height corresponds with that of the other figures, it being usually 

 from two to four feet. If these crosses are to be deemed evidence of the former 

 existence of Christianity on this continent (as some have inferred), we may, with 

 almost equal propriety, assert that Mohammedanism was associated with it, and, 

 as proof, refer to the mound or ridge here represented in the form of a crescent. 



Three mounds, near the north end of the group, are cleft at the extremity, like 

 that noticed at Burlington (Plate XIII, Fig. 2). One of them might be supposed 

 to represent a fisli, and, as the finny tribe must have afforded a principal source of 

 subsistence to the builders, it would not be sui'prising if they should include them 

 in the list of animals to be thus depicted. In that case the cleft extremity should 

 be considered as a forked tail, rather than an open mouth. The general direction 

 of the other figures would naturally suggest the same thing, at least in this locality. 



In a cultivated field, near these works, were traces of other mounds, whose 

 nature we could not determine ; they were too far gone to be restored. 



Half a mile east of this extensive group is a smaller cluster, consisting of two 

 animals and two oblong mounds. They were discovered by the engineer party in 

 the survey of the Valley Railroad, who reported the animals as resembling the 

 horse. Mr. Logan Crawford, Deputy Surveyor of Dodge county, made a survey 

 and drawing of one, given on Plate XXXVIII, which, as will be seen, has but 

 little resemblance to a horse. It was, without doubt, constructed by men who 

 had never seen or heard of such an animal, being long before its introduction upon 

 the American continent. 



The two figures at this place are almost exactly alike, and Mr. Crawford's outline 

 may be relied upon as correct. The dimensions were ascertained by running a line 

 over the mound lengthwise, and then measuring at right angles from this line to 

 thirty-six of the most prominent points in the outline. The height on the shoulders 

 and fore-part of the body' is about two and a half feet. The legs, tail, head, and 

 neck, are not more than one foot high. Its whole length is one hundred and 

 twenty-four feet. 



Directly north of May ville (on the northeast quarter of section fourteen, town- 

 ship twelve, range sixteen), on the eastern declivity, and near the base of a ridge, 

 I saw some traces of ancient cultivation, in the form of garden-beds, with inter- 

 mediate paths. In one place, where the beds were examined, they are one hundred 

 feet long, and had a uniform breadth of six feet, with a direction nearly east and 

 west. The depressions or walks between the beds were about eight inches deep 

 and fifteen inches wide. 



The next group of mounds noticed was at the northern extremity of a ridge near 

 the lower dam and mills (northwest quarter of section fourteen). There were five 

 elevations of the circular form, three of them with a projecting ridge, gradually 

 tapering to the extremity, being of the kind called " tadpoles."^ There are also 

 two of the lizard form, the tail of one being in contact with the head of the other. 



» This form (see Fig. 18, p. 51), may possibly have been iuteuded to represent the gourd, an 

 ancient American plant, doubtless muck used by tlic mound-builders. 



