No. 89.] 41 



and at regular intervals of space, so as to form a circle within the mound, . 

 disinterred. Some slight appearance yet existed, to show that frame-work h.T^ 

 enclosed the dead at the time of interment. These osteological remains wert 

 very large size, but were so much decomposed that they mostly crumbled to dusi. 

 The relics of art here disclosed, were also of a peculiar and interesting character, — 

 amulets, chisels, &c., of elaborate workmanship, — resembling the Mexican and 

 Peruvian antiquities. 



The fields adjoining this work, at the period of the early settlement of this sec- 

 tion, retained the trace of ancient cultivation; the Tea-maize and several other 

 species of grain-shrubbery, were growing in wild luxuriance. 



Vestiges of a series of ancient works are remaining in the section of the Cone- 

 wango valley, where the waters of various tributaries unite in forming the Cone- 

 wango, while lofty ranges of hills, clad with the luxuriant wild-woods, amid which 

 nestle green and sunny slopes, rise upon the north, the east, the south, and the 

 west, in their majestic grandeur, and still farther to the south are seen the hazy 

 outlines of the distant Alleganies. Plate IV. 



The first work in this interesting group — situated upon low ground, with creeks 

 upon either side — appears to have been constructed with geometrical accuracy. It 

 forms a circle 1,000 feet in circumference; four gateways, each twelve feet in width, 

 occur at equal distances in the wall, with slight bastions at the terminating points, 

 to the north, the east, the south, and the west. The parapet has now an eleva- 

 tion of some two feet above the interior surface, and is perhaps six feet in width, 

 with trench three and a half feet in depth. The work, however, has undoubtedly 

 been much effaced, by long cultivation of the field where it is situated. The idea is 

 suggested that this fortification was thrown up for purposes of attacking the en- 

 trenched position occupying the west bank of the creek. A defensive work would 

 not have been erected in such a position, as it could afibrd no protection, even 

 though guarded by palisades, against the showers of arrows with which an oppo- 

 sing force that might occupy the heights to the east, could sweep the entire work. 

 Several rods in a northwestern direction from the fortification, are noticed re- 

 mains of an ancient hearth, composed of flat stones cemented together; it is eight 

 feet in diameter, and extends about a foot below the surrounding surface. 



The entrenched work already referred to, upon the west side of the Conewango 

 creek, consisting of a detached parallel sixty rods in length, extending across the 

 level terrace, intersecting at each terminus with streams which were here bordered 

 by impassable marshes. This redout, in its dimensions and manner of construction, 

 must have been one of the strongest military works left by the Aborigines in West- 

 ern New York. The position here chosen, ^s a defensive work, indeed, evinces 

 much strategical skill ; the inclosure, which is something in the form of a parallelo- 

 gram, with the Conewango forming the boundary upon one side, and the inacces- 

 sible marshes bordering upon the creeks with which the wall intersected upon the 

 other, constituted a complete barrier to successful attack. Connected with this 

 work, numerous caches have been observed — thirty -two were at one time distinctly 

 traced — and which would have been suflBcient to contain the stores of a large 

 force, even during a protracted siege. 



In a western direction from the fortification just described, and at a distance of 

 nearly forty rods, occurs a Tumulus. It has an altitude often feet, Avith a diame- 

 ter of thirty-five feet. Within this mound were the remains of cranial and other 

 bones, a plate of mica, and other interesting relics of ancient art. 



A number of rods from the iRound^ and near a small stream, a,re found thr§o 



[Senate, No. 89.] 6 



