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INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 



My first critical examinations of the ancient tumuli, forts, excavations, ditches, 

 and lines of embankment that abound in Ohio, were made during the years 1837 

 and 1838, while engaged as a member of the Geological Survey of the State. 



The first and second geological reports of the Corps show what progress had 

 been made in the work of describing these venerable ruins, when the Survey was 

 suspended for want of funds. 



Long before that time plans and descriptions of many of them had been made, 

 some of which are quite accurate ; while others, particularly those described in 

 the travels of Ashe, and the compilation of Priest, are often fictitious. The plan 

 of the great work at Marietta, by the Rev. S. Harris, made in 1802 ; the Papers 

 of the Ohio Company, edited and published by Dr. S. P. Hildreth ; and the surveys 

 of Dr. John Locke and Mr. James McBride, are worthy of reliance. The "Anti- 

 quities of Ohio," published in 1819 by Caleb Atwater, is by far the most complete 

 of the early publications on this subject; and considering the new and inaccessible 

 state of the country at that time, and the discouragements and difficulties of making- 

 detailed examinations, his plans are in general as correct as could be reasonably 

 expected. 



The course which I have pursued has been to visit in person all the known ruins, 

 and if any one had previously examined and correctly described them, to give 

 him credit for the plan, adding, if necessary, some written explanations. When 

 the Geological Survey terminated, about one-third of the works had been exa- 

 mined, and Mr. Joseph Sullivant, of Columbus, Ohio, who took a deep interest in 

 these mysterious remains, proposed that I should continue their survey with a 

 view to a joint publication, he bearing the actual expenses. Under this arrange- 

 ment, in 1839 and 1840, I made examinations of nearly all the remaining works 

 then discovered, but nothing was effected towards their publication. 



In 1845-6 Messrs. E. G. Squier and E. H. Davis, of Chillicothe, commenced a 

 systematic exploration of the numerous earth-works in the rich valley of the Scioto, 

 and finally extended their researches throughout the State of Ohio, and the West, 



The results of their labors are extensively and creditably known as composing 

 the first volume of the Smithsonian Contributions. At the request of these gentle- 

 men, I furnished them with such memoranda and plans as they desired, which 

 may be seen in their work, duly credited to me. 



Such of my Surveys as were repeated and published by Messrs. Squier and Davis, 

 were, of course, superseded, and became useless ; for I find, on comparison, that 

 their plans in general agree exactly with mine, and the exceptions are such as could 

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