PERCH LAKE AND OTHER NEW YORK MOUNDS 21 



Nearly the whole space between the walls is occupied by the hut 

 rings or circular depressions. They are of the usual size, 20 to 50 

 feet across, and 1 to 3 feet deep. Thomas, p. 174 



These contained ashes, pottery, etc., and he mentions no ridges. 

 In another group the rings varied from 21 to 34 feet across. In an- 

 other large group we get a more definite idea of the elevation, a fea- 

 ture in which most of these seem to differ from those of Perch lake. 

 This is at Beckw r ith's fort, Mississippi county, Missouri. After 

 describing the inclosure he says of the hut rings : 



These almost cover the remainder of the area, the only open space 

 of any considerable size being the 200 feet square just east of the 

 large mound. They are not confined to the natural level of the in- 

 closure, as some are found on the level tops of the mounds. They are 

 circular in form, varying from 30 to 50 feet in diameter, measuring 

 to the tops of their rims, which are raised slightly above the natural 

 level. The depth of the depression at the center is from 2 to 3 feet. 

 Near the center, somewhat covered with earth, are usually found the 

 baked earth, charcoal, and ashes of ancient fires, and around these 

 and beneath the rims split bones and fresh-water shells. Often 

 mingled with this refuse material are rude stone implements and 

 fragments of pottery. The similarity in the size, form, and general 

 appearance of these depressions and earthen rings to those of the 

 earth lodges of the abandoned Mandan towns along the Missouri 

 river, leaves no doubt that they mark the dwelling sites of the people 

 who formerly occupied this locality. Thomas, p. 187 



These mere depressions illustrate but one feature of the Perch 

 lake mounds, and we have a closer correspondence in those described 

 by Prof. F. W. Putnam in the nth report of the Peabody Museum, 

 and quoted by Mr Thomas. They Ave re some observed by the 

 former in Tennessee, and thus described: 



Scattered irregularly within the inclosure [the earthen wall which 

 inclosed the area] are nearly one hundred more or less defined 

 circular ridges of earth, Avhich are from a few inches to a little over 

 3 feet in hight, and of diameters varying from 10 to 50 feet. . . 

 An examination of these numerous low mounds, or rather earth 

 rings, as there could generally be traced a central depression, soon 

 convinced me that I had before me the remains of the dwellings of 

 the people who had erected the large mound, made the earthen 

 embankment, buried their dead in the stone graves, and lived in this 

 fortified town. Thomas, p.662 



