20 ABORIGINAL MONUMENTS OF NEW YORK, 



no water near at hand, except a limited supply from a small spring. Neverthe- 

 less, this seems to have been the site of a very populous aboriginal town. 

 The entire area of the work is covered with accumulations of carbonaceous 

 matter, burned stones, fragments of bones, pottery, etc. Indeed, these indications 

 are visible for some distance exterior to the walls, upon the adjacent level. These 

 artificial accumulations have rendered the soil within the enclosure extremely fer- 

 tile, and it sustains most luxuriant crops. In cultivating the area, many fragments 

 of human bones, some of them burned, have been observed, — suggesting the pos- 

 sibility that the ancient village was destroyed by enemies, and that these are the 

 bones of its occupants, who fell in defence of their kindred, and were burned in the 

 fires which consumed their lodges. A little to the northward of the work, there seems 

 to have been an aboriginal cemetery. Here the plough frequently exposes skeletons, 

 buried according to the Indian mode, and accompanied by various rude relics of 

 stone and bone. Within and around the work are also found stone axes, flint 

 arrow-heads, and other remnants of savage art. Fragments of pottery and broken 

 pipes of clay are, however, most abundant. Of these bushels might be collected 

 without much difficulty. 



It is clear that this work was not intended as a place of last resort, but was 

 occupied by a considerable population for a long period. It was undoubtedly a forti- 

 fied town. It should be remarked, that although now nearly or quite filled up, 

 here were originally a number of pits (popularly known as wells) of considerable 

 size, the caches of the ancient occupants. 



PLATE II. No. 2. 



ANCIENT WORK TWO AND A HALF MILES SOUTHEAST OI' WATERTOWN, JEFFERSON 



COUNTY, NEW YORK. 



Still continuing along the brow of the terrace northward, for two and a half or 

 three miles, we reach a third work, the greater part of which is covered with for- 

 est, and is consequently well preserved. It is much smaller than any of those be- 

 fore described, and is bounded by a series of right lines, slightly rounded at the angles, 

 which gives it something of the appearance of a modern field-work. The slope of 

 the terrace bank is here comparatively gentle, and there is a step or table about 

 midway from the brow to the base. Here a number of springs start out, below 

 the stratum of rock. Formerly the walls of the work were continued down the 

 slope, towards the springs, as indicated by the dotted lines in the plan. They are 

 not now to be traced further than the edge of the terrace. The position of this 

 work is remarkably fine, and was selected with taste and skill. The table-land 

 immediately around it is level ; the soil gravelly and dry. There seems to have 



