150 CERTAIN ABORIGINAL REMAINS, BLACK WARRIOR RIVER. 
so that no need for refuge from flood impelled their building, lies on a level plain 
extending back from the river bluff. This plain could have afforded ample space 
at all stages of the river for the games and ceremonies of an aboriginal center, 
which at one time Moundville must have been. Evidence of aboriginal occupancy 
extends in all directions beyond the limits of the circle. 
The mounds, which have been approximately oblong or square in outline, with 
summit plateaus usually level, are so arranged that two principal ones аге sur- 
rounded by the rest. One of these, Mound A in the survey, fairly central, exceeds 
in area any of the others, the basal diameters being 195 feet and 351 feet; while 
Mound B surpasses the others in altitude, its height being 57 feet. 
Near many of the mounds are depressions, formed by excavating the material 
for their building, some containing water, others drained by means of ditches. 
These depressions are not present within what, for convenience, we call the circle 
formed by the mounds (although it is not exactly circular), but are sometimes to 
one side of the mounds, sometimes outside the circle; and the mounds within the 
enclosed space do not have such depressions. It is evident, then, that the mounds 
were built according to some fixed plan, and that these shallow ponds were inten- 
tionally placed outside the area of the circle, perhaps that those living on the plain 
within could have more convenient access to the mounds. 
Certain of the mounds have graded ways, more or less distinct, leading to their 
summits. These ways are shown on the survey. Others of the mounds may have 
had similar ways; but if so they have become effaced through cultivation or wash 
of rain, or both. 
At the northern side of Mound B is an artificial plateau, marked V on the 
survey, one and two-thirds acres in extent, roughly speaking. This plateau ranges 
in height from 2 feet 6 inches to 16 feet 5 inches, the greatest altitude being at the 
northeastern part. 
On the survey are shown deep gullies formed by wash of rain which seems 
gradually to be eating away the territory on which the mounds are situated. 
The ridge north of Mound R, particularly described in the report, is marked 
U on the survey; and W is the field north of Mound D, where much digging was 
done. 
Excavations made previous to our visit to Moundville are shown on the plans 
of the various mounds. 
Although we were provided with efficient apparatus in abundance to take pho- 
tographs, and there were those on our steamer amply able to do so, no photographie 
illustrations of the Moundville mounds will be given in this report. Long experi- 
ence has shown us that a photograph of a mound, through undue exaggeration of 
the foreground, is worse than valueless; it is misleading. А mound, stupendous to 
the human eye, appears quite ordinary in size in a photograph. 
Although there had been considerable digging into the smaller mounds of 
Moundville previous to our visit, no record has been kept of the result, and the 
artifacts, if any were found, are not available. 
