1872.] 31 [Putnam. 
graving, where they are represented by the black circles. One of the 
six depressions opposite the indenture of the eastern ravine is oval in 
shape, and is the only one that is not nearly circular, the others vary- 
ing but a foot or two in their diameters. 
Two of these depressions were dug into, and it was found that they 
were evidently once large pits that had gradually been filled by the 
hand of time with the accumulation of vegetable matter and soil which 
had been deposited by natural action alone. In some instances large 
trees are now growing in the pits, and their many roots make digging 
difficult. A trench was dug across one pit (J), throwing out the soil 
carefully until the former bottom of the pit was reached at a depth of 
about five feet. On this bottom ashes and burnt clay gave evidence 
of an ancient fire, and at a few feet on one side several pieces of pot- 
tery, a few bones of animals and one stone arrowhead were found. 
A spot had evidently been struck where food had been cooked and 
eaten, and though there was not time to open other pits there is no 
doubt but that they would tell a similar story, and the legitimate con- 
clusion to be drawn from the facts is that these pits were the houses of 
the inhabitants or defenders of the fort, who were probably further 
protected from the elements and the arrows of assailants by a roof of 
logs and bark or boughs. The great number of the pits would show 
that they were for a definite and general purpose, and their irreeular 
arrangement would indicate that they were not laid out with the sole 
idea of acting as places of defence, though those near the walls 
might answer as covers from which to fire on an opposing force 
beyond, and the six pits near the eastern indenture, in front of 
three of which there are traces of two small earth walls, and the 
two commanding the entrance of the fort, would strengthen this 
view of the use of those near the embankment. 
In many of the ancient fortifications that have been described by 
Mr. Squier and others, pits have been noticed, but they have been 
only very few in number, and have been considered as places for the 
storage of food or water. The great number in this small earth- 
work, with the finding that one at least was used for the purpose of 
cooking and eating food, is evidence that they were for some other 
purpose here, though some of the smaller ones may have answered 
for storehouses. 
The five small mounds were situated in various parts of the en- 
closure. The largest (G) was nearly fifty feet in diameter, and was 
probably originally not over ten feet in height. It had been very 
