86 ABORIGINAL MONUMENTS OF NEW YORK. 



embankment of earth, which in height and thickness appears to have been the 

 same on all sides. Exterior to the wall is a ditch. The bank of the creek upon 

 the side towards the work is high and steep. The water in the creek is ordina- 

 rily sufficiently deep to admit canoes to ascend to the fortification from the river. 

 When the first settlers came to Wyoming, this plain was covered with its native 

 forests, consisting principally of oak and yellow pine ; and the trees which grew 

 upon the work are said to have been as large as those in any part of the valley. 

 One large oak, upon being cut down, was found to be 700 years old. The Indians 

 have no traditions concerning these fortifications ; nor do they appear to have any 

 knowledge of the purposes for which they were erected." — (^Miner's History of 

 Wyoming, p. 25.) Traces of a similar work existed on " Jacob's Plains," on the 

 upper flats of Wilkesbarre. " It occupied the highest point on the flats, M'hich 

 in the time of freshets appears like an island in the sea of waters. In size and 

 shape it coincides with that already described. High trees were growing upon 

 the embankment at the period of the first settlement of the country. It is about 

 eighty rods from the river, towards which opened a gateway ; and the old settlers 

 concur in stating that a well [cache ?'\ existed in the interior near the southern line. 

 On the banks of the river is an ancient burial-place, in which the bodies were laid 

 horizontally in regular rows. In excavating the canal through the bank bordering 

 the flats, perhaps thirty rods south of the fort, another burial-place was disclosed, 

 evidently more ancient, for the bones crumbled to pieces almost immediately upon 

 exposure to the air, and the deposits were far more numerous than in that near 

 the river. The immber of skeletons are represented to have been countless, and 

 the dead had been buried in a sitting posture. In this place of deposit no beads 

 were found, while they were common in the other." — (Mmer's History, p. 28.) 



Near this locality, which seems to have been a favorite one with the Indians, 

 medals bearing the head of the First George, and other relics of European origin, 

 are often discovered. 



Still further to the northwest, near the borders of New York, and forming an 

 unbroken chain with the works of that State, are found other remains. One of 

 these, on the Tioga River, near Athens, was ascribed by the Duke de Rochefou- 

 cauld to the French, in the time of De Nonville ! He describes it as follows : 



" Near the confines of Pennsylvania, a mountain rises from the banks of the 

 River Tioga, in the shape of a sugar loaf, upon which are to be seen the remains 

 of some entrenchments. These are called by the inhabitants the ' Spanish Ram- 

 parts,' but I judge that they were thrown up against the Indians, in the time of 

 De Nonville. A breast-work is still remaining." — ( Travels in America.') A simi- 

 lar work, circular or elliptical in outhne, is said to exist in Lycoming county. 

 Near it are extensive cemeteries. — {Day''s Hist. Coll., p. 455.) 



In the New England States few traces of works of this kind are to be found. 

 There are, however, some remains in the State of New Hampshire, which, what- 

 ever their origin, are entitled to notice. The subjoined plan of one of these is 

 from a sketch made in 1822 by Jacob B. Mooi"e, Esq., late Librarian of the His- 

 torical Society of New York, who has also furnished the accompanying descrip- 

 tion. 



