MONTGOMERY COUNTY- 

 PLATE XII. 



ANCIENT WORK, MINDEN TOWNSHIP. 



The work here figured is in many respects the most remarkable in the State. 

 It is the only one known which is situated upon waters flowing into the Hudson 

 River. Its nearest neighbors upon the west are the ancient works in Onondaga 

 county, a hundred miles distant. Between it and the Atlantic, we are not aware 

 of the existence of a single monument of like character. 



It occurs upon the banks of the Otstungo Creek, a branch of the Otsquago, — 

 itself a tributary of the Mohawk, about four miles in a southwestern direction from 

 Fort Plain, in the town of Minden. It is known in the vicinity by the name of 

 '■'■Indian HilV The position is admirably chosen, and is naturally by far the 

 strongest and most defensible of any which fell under the observation of the author 

 in the entire course of his explorations in this State. It is a high point of land 

 projecting into a bend of the creek, which upon one side has cut away the slate 

 rock, so that it presents a mural front upwards of one hundred feet in height, and 

 entirely inaccessible. Upon the opposite side is a ravine, within which flows a 

 small stream. Here the slope, though not precipitous, is very abrupt ; and if a line 

 of palisades were carried along its brow, it would be entirely inaccessible to a 

 savage assailant. Across the narrow isthmus which connects this head-land with 

 the adjacent high grounds, is an embankment and ditch two hundred and forty feet 

 in length, extending from the precipice upon the south to the brow of the ravine on 

 the north, along which, curving inwards, it is carried for some distance, termi- 

 nating at a gigantic pine six feet in diameter. It has been supposed by some that 

 this tree has grown upon the embankment since it was erected ; but it seems most 

 likely that it was the starting point of the ancient builders. The wall is not of 

 uniform height, but at the most elevated point rises perhaps six feet above the 

 bottom of the ditch. No gateway is apparent, but one may have existed where 

 the " wood road " now crosses the entrenched line. The plan will afford an accu- 

 rate idea of the position and its natural strength. The enclosed area is about 

 seven hundred feet long by four hundred and fifty broad at its widest part, and 

 contains very nearly six acres. It is densely covered with immense pines throw- 

 ing over it a deep gloom, and, with the murmur of the stream at the foot of the 

 precipice, impressing the solitary visitor with feelings of awe, which the professed 

 antiquary might deem it a weakness to acknowledge. 



