webb] ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF NORRIS BASIN 223 



houses were circular, and those of Norris Basin were always rec- 

 tangular. This difference is important, and by no means to be over- 

 looked. The difference in the shape of the structures required a dif- 

 ferent method of construction and clearly indicates that though the 

 town houses in the Nor r is Basin were in Cherokee territory, yet they 

 were not built by the Cherokee. 



That the Cherokee town house was always circular we have abun- 

 dant evidence. Perhaps the best detailed description of its con- 

 struction is given by Bartram 37 in discussing the town house at 

 Cowe. 



In seeming accord with the tradition of the Cherokee migration, 

 Carr, 38 in 1876, found in a mound in Lee County, Va., cedar posts 

 arranged in a circular pattern, which in view of Bartram's descrip- 

 tion, caused Carr to conclude that the mound was a Cherokee council 

 house. In this conclusion Thomas 39 agreed. 



"Bartram, 1792, p. 365. 

 a 3 Carr, 1877, p. 75. 

 89 Thomas, 1887, p. 87. 



