“Descending the river, near Mound creek, we come to a large mound, I, enclosed p107 in a circle, and accompanied by a smaller one. It is perhaps the largest and most perfect on the river. It is five hundred feet in circumference at the base, two hundred and twenty-five feet in circumference at the summit, and thirty-four feet high,—slightly oblong. It is covered with stumps, briars, etc., having recently been brought under cultivation. In April last, while ploughing over the small mound, an urn was discovered, a sketch of which is enclosed. It holds forty-six quarts, or nearly twelve gallons. It had a cover fitting closely over the body for about six inches; this was broken by the plough. The vessel was curiously ornamented, and is probably the largest ever discovered in the valley. It contained a number of large shell beads, much decomposed, about the size and shape of nutmegs. It also contained another article of the same material, about the size of a man’s palm, a quarter of an inch thick, and carved in open work; probably designed for suspension around the neck as a badge or ornament. The ditch around this mound is slight.
“Still further down the river, upon the opposite side, and some distance south of the road from Camden to Columbia, is the most remarkable ancient work in the valley (O). It is called the ‘Indian Ditch.’ It occurs at the great bend of the river, and consists of an embankment and ditch carried across the isthmus, cutting off, and, with the river, enclosing some hundreds of acres of fine alluvial land. It is about one mile in length, and the circuit of the river from one end to the other is between three and four miles. Twenty-one years ago, when I first visited it, this ditch was about eight feet deep and the wall of corresponding dimensions: a primitive forest was then growing upon its southern portion, but it is now all under the plough and fast disappearing. The bank is exterior to the ditch, which circumstance seems to conflict with the notion that the work was constructed for defence. It has been suggested, but with no good reason, that it was designed for a ‘cut off’ or artificial channel for the river. Whatever its purpose, it was a great undertaking for a rude or savage people.
“On the opposite side of the river, about two hundred yards below the mouth of Pine-tree creek, is a group of mounds, surrounded by a low embankment (J). One of them has been nearly washed away by the river, and the others have been much reduced by cultivation. The largest is yet twelve or fifteen feet high, with a very wide base. From these mounds are disclosed arrow-heads, axes, urns, and other vestiges of art, accompanied by human bones and the bones of wild animals, and marine shells, all much decayed. As the water washes away the side of the mound on its bank, charcoal, urns, bones, etc., in successive strata, are exposed; as though it had constituted a cemetery, receiving deposits from time to time, from its commencement to its completion. The strata vary in thickness from six to eighteen inches, and are mixed with much mica, sometimes in large plates. It was long under cultivation in corn, then indigo, and in 1806, when I first saw it, in cotton, which is still cultivated on it. On the large mound stood the overseer’s house; around it, on the smaller piles, were the negro quarters.
“In the bend of the river nearly opposite the south end of the ‘Indian Ditch,’ is a mound, perhaps fifteen feet high (K). Little is known respecting it, having been for many years the site of an overseer’s house. I obtained a circular stone, p108 with concave sides and finely polished, which had been found here, also two large urns, one holding twelve, the other twenty quarts, with a number of other aboriginal relics. At the mouth of Town creek, some distance below, there was formerly, no doubt, an Indian town or camp, (L,) judging from the quantity of relics found here. A very fine description of clay is found at this spot, which is resorted to by the Catawba Indians every spring and autumn, for the purpose of manufacturing pottery from it.
“Boykin’s mound (M) is one mile lower down the river upon the same bank. It is now nearly washed away by the river. Twenty years ago, when I first saw it, large trees covered it, and it was entire. Four years afterwards I visited it, when only about one third remained, which on the side next the river beautifully exhibited the various strata composing it. It had the usual layers of earth, pottery, charred reeds, etc. Some few of the vases were entire, containing fragments of bones, and were well arranged in tiers, one above the other.
“Last of the series is Nixon’s mound (N). It is much reduced, and is not now more than ten feet high. From this to the sea I know of no similar relics. Paint hill and Kirkwood, in the neighborhood of Pine-tree creek, must have been much frequented, judging from the numerous relics occurring on and around them; the former for its pure water, the latter for its fine clay. Hobkirk’s hill, near Camden, abounds in aboriginal relics. I have procured several large pipes from these localities, all of which exhibit a skill in workmanship surpassing that of the present race. The entire section in which the above remains occur is exceedingly fertile, and capable of sustaining a large agricultural population.”
- PLATE XXXVIII. No. 1.[76]
ANCIENT WORKS ON THE ETOWAH RIVER, ALABAMA.
- This work occurs within the present limits of the State of Alabama, upon the
banks of Etowah river, a branch of the Coosa. It is situated upon an alluvial
“bottom,” at an angle or bend of the stream; and its defences consist of a semi-circular
ditch, the flanks of which rest on the river. This ditch is twenty-five p109
or thirty feet in width, by eight feet in depth; and is interrupted by no less than
seven passage-ways, placed at irregular intervals, and formed by leaving the earth
unexcavated at the points where they occur. It is a remarkable fact that no
embankment accompanies the ditch; although the work is not entirely singular
in that respect. Within the enclosure thus formed by the river on the one hand
and the ditch on the other, are several mounds, one of which is of great size and
extraordinary character. It measures upwards of seventy-five feet in height, and
is twelve hundred feet in circumference at its base. It is truncated, the area at its
summit having a diameter of one hundred and forty feet. A graded avenue, which
may be ascended on horseback, leads to its top from the east. Upon its northern
and southern sides, at the height of forty feet, are triangular platforms or terraces,
which are also reached by graded ascents from the plain. The supplementary
plan A exhibits the outlines of the monument. Upon its top, trees are growing,
which, at the height of a man’s head from the ground, measure little under
eleven feet in circumference. A fallen oak measured by Mr. Cornelius in 1818
was found to be, at the distance of six feet from the branching of the roots, twelve feet
four inches in circumference, exclusive of the bark. There are two other truncated
mounds, to the south-west of the great mound, but of less dimensions. One of
these has a perpendicular altitude of thirty feet; and its summit was fortified, with
a parapet and palisades, by the Cherokees in their war with the Creeks. The
earth taken from the ditch above mentioned was probably used in the construction
of these mounds.
- [♠]
- No. 1. On the Etowah River, Alabama.
- No. 2. Chickasaw Surveys, Lafayette Co. Mississippi.
- No. 3. On Clear Creek in Lafayette Co. Mississippi.
- No. 4. Prairie Jefferson, Moorhouse Parish, Louisiana.
- XXXVIII. Ancient Works:
- [♠]
- An analogous work of some interest, (Fig. 21,) but partially destroyed by the Tennessee river, upon the bank of which it stands, occurs near the town of Florence, in Alabama. “It consists of a large mound, hexagonal in form, truncated, and forty-five feet in height by four hundred and forty feet in circumference at the base. The level area at the summit is one hundred and fifty feet in circumference. It appears to be composed of the ordinary surface loam, and is carried up with great regularity. So far as it has yet been examined, no traces of bones or other foreign substances have been discovered.
- Fig. 21.
- “Partly surrounding the mound is a wall two hundred and seventy feet distant from its base, which extends from the main river below, to a branch formed by Cane island above, constituting a segment of a circle, the centre of which would be in the Tennessee river. The wall is about forty feet across the top, and, making allowances for the ravages of time, must have been originally from twelve to fifteen feet high; it is now about eight feet in height. The mound and wall bear the same marks of antiquity, both being covered with large timber of the same age and description with that found growing on the surrounding lands. The wall has what appears to be a ditch on the outside. p110
- “These works are situated on the river bottom, and are half surrounded by a very high ridge, which runs parallel to the Tennessee river, about four hundred yards distant. This ridge, upon which the principal part of the town of Florence is situated, overlooks and entirely commands the whole. The mound, with its surrounding wall, thus situated and exposed to attack, could hardly have been designed as a place of defence. It must have been appropriated to another purpose.”[77]
- This work occurs within the present limits of the State of Alabama, upon the
banks of Etowah river, a branch of the Coosa. It is situated upon an alluvial
“bottom,” at an angle or bend of the stream; and its defences consist of a semi-circular
ditch, the flanks of which rest on the river. This ditch is twenty-five p109
or thirty feet in width, by eight feet in depth; and is interrupted by no less than
seven passage-ways, placed at irregular intervals, and formed by leaving the earth
unexcavated at the points where they occur. It is a remarkable fact that no
embankment accompanies the ditch; although the work is not entirely singular
in that respect. Within the enclosure thus formed by the river on the one hand
and the ditch on the other, are several mounds, one of which is of great size and
extraordinary character. It measures upwards of seventy-five feet in height, and
is twelve hundred feet in circumference at its base. It is truncated, the area at its
summit having a diameter of one hundred and forty feet. A graded avenue, which
may be ascended on horseback, leads to its top from the east. Upon its northern
and southern sides, at the height of forty feet, are triangular platforms or terraces,
which are also reached by graded ascents from the plain. The supplementary
plan A exhibits the outlines of the monument. Upon its top, trees are growing,
which, at the height of a man’s head from the ground, measure little under
eleven feet in circumference. A fallen oak measured by Mr. Cornelius in 1818
was found to be, at the distance of six feet from the branching of the roots, twelve feet
four inches in circumference, exclusive of the bark. There are two other truncated
mounds, to the south-west of the great mound, but of less dimensions. One of
these has a perpendicular altitude of thirty feet; and its summit was fortified, with
a parapet and palisades, by the Cherokees in their war with the Creeks. The
earth taken from the ditch above mentioned was probably used in the construction
of these mounds.
![[♠]](#2494257972018181321_i108e.jpg.id-5589043180415260441.wrap-0.html.html){kind=link}
- PLATE XXXVIII. Nos. 2 and 3.
- NUMBER 2.—“This work is situated in T. 4 S., R. 7 W., of the Chickasaw surveys, five miles south-east of the Tallahatchie river. It occupies a point of high land, overlooking the valley of a small creek, and consists of a simple embankment of earth, about three feet in height, with an exterior ditch of corresponding dimensions. It is a polygon in form, and at first glance appears entirely irregular. It will be observed, however, that the line c d corresponds in length with h i, and also that e f is exactly equal to f h,—coincidences which could not possibly be accidental. The side c s j, fronting on the creek, is not entrenched, being sufficiently protected by the high bluff bank. There are no interruptions in the embankment, the ends of which terminate within a short distance of the bluff on the right, leaving passage-ways fifteen or twenty feet wide. A ditch, however, extends from i to j, at the south-east angle; but it is a question whether it was not formed by the water overflowing the artificial ditch at i. The angles of this work are not rounded, but sharp as if newly dug. There are two points, (indicated by the letter s on the plan,) one on a spur of land within the enclosure, and the other at the extreme point of the headland on which the work is situated, where there are excavations from which the earth is thrown up on the outer side. They resemble short sections of the wall and ditch, and suggest the notion of sentry posts, or signal or alarm stations.
- “Within the work are several low, irregular mounds, all of which are flat on the top, except k, which is basin-shaped, the concavity being about two feet deep by fifteen across. Excavations, at any point around these mounds, disclose ashes, p111 charcoal, and sooty earth; the charcoal is of oak-wood and very bright. Abundant fragments of the black pottery, glazed inside, and so common in this region, are found in and around this work. At the time of my visit, I found several arrow-heads and a wedge-shaped stone. A few years ago a carved pipe was found here and a piece of heavy metal, which was tested for gold and afterwards mislaid. Inasmuch, however, as the Indians lately occupied this ground in great numbers for several years, these minor relics may be regarded as having pertained to them.
- “The bluffs around this work are of extraordinary height for this region, and the whole position seems well designed for defence. The regularity and apparent freshness of the structure, and its correspondence, in some striking respects, to our modern system of defence, almost induce me to ascribe to it an European origin. This supposition is further favored by the well known fact that Hernando de Soto passed through here, and probably erected works at various points.”
- NUMBER 3.—“This work is situated on the left bank of Clear creek, near Mount Sylvan, Lafayette county, Mississippi. It occupies a high point of land, overlooking the creek bottom; upon the right is a bluff bank, forty feet high; towards the north the ground is somewhat broken, and upon the left it slopes gradually to a hollow. There are no hills or elevated points commanding the work within a mile or more. The ground within the enclosure is level.
- “The structure itself is quadrangular in form, and consists of a slight embankment of earth, about three feet high by thirty feet broad at the base, and twelve feet broad on the top. It has no ditch, exterior or interior to the embankment, although upon both sides there are evidences of the removal of the earth, leaving slight depressions, as shown in the section. At the gateway G, the original level of the ground is preserved. Various forest-trees are growing upon the walls, consisting of black oak and hickory,—some of the oaks are upwards of eighteen inches in diameter. At the foot of the bluffs, to the right of the work, are numerous and copious springs of water.
- “There are no mounds within the enclosure; although there are two a little way outside of the walls, occupying the positions indicated in the plan.[78] The one nearest the gateway, number 1, has trees growing upon it, twenty inches in diameter. Fragments of pottery are scattered in abundance upon and around it. Mound number 2 I have carefully examined. It is situated upon sloping ground, and is perhaps one foot high on the upper, and three feet on the lower side, by twenty feet base. In the centre is a regular concavity one foot deep and twelve feet across; and in this respect it is different from any I have elsewhere observed. The first excavation was made upon the lower side, where were found several p112 arrows, a human skeleton, (a mature subject,) and a large quantity, nearly a half bushel, of coarse pottery. It is of the same kind with that so abundant in the Clear creek valley, where it would be easy to fill a cart in a day. None of the vessels were whole; and I may here remark that I have not been able to recover any of the pottery entire,—all, not excepting the clay pipes, are invariably broken. Among the fragments of pottery was found a piece of hard-burned clay, resembling in form a sweet potato, split longitudinally. The next excavation was made in the centre or lowest part of the concavity above mentioned. The removal of the vegetable accumulation disclosed a layer of yellow clay, four inches thick; beneath which, and nearly upon the original level of the earth, was found a hard-burned stratum, perfectly black, and apparently mingled with ashes. It was with difficulty broken up. Beneath this hearth was a spongy unstratified mass, in which, to the depth of six inches, were mingled fragments of earthenware. Beyond this, nothing was discovered. There were no traces of bones upon the hearth, and but few fragments of pottery. Large trees are growing upon this mound.
- “Mound number 3 is about four feet high, and is situated upon the creek bottom, not far from the stream. I opened it nearly a year since. About two feet from the surface was found the skeleton of a child, much decayed, and unaccompanied by remains of any sort. A little below the surface was found a stone tool, resembling a carver’s flesh knife, and a leaden ounce bullet. There is much pottery upon and around this mound; but little, if any, within it. It was not thoroughly excavated; but so far as examined there were discovered no traces of fire,—it being, in this respect, peculiar. Every other mound which I have investigated has been found to contain ashes and charcoal.”
- Whether either of the works above described had a military origin is sufficiently doubtful; although the last named has some of the characteristics of a work of defence. There is nothing, however, in its position or structure so different from hundreds of other works as to warrant us in assigning to it a later date or a different origin. As a military work, it is vastly inferior to many with which we are acquainted, and its regularity is not sufficiently marked to entitle it to any special consideration on that account. It clearly belongs to that great family of remains, of which so many examples have already been presented. Throughout the entire field of their occurrence, these maintain certain characteristic features, some of which are well exhibited in the particular work here mentioned.
- Had Hernando de Soto erected one tenth of the works which have been ascribed to him, in the States bordering the Gulf, in Tennessee, and even in Kentucky, he must have found ample demands on his time and exertions. It is most likely, however, that the intervals between his tedious and toilsome marches were occupied more profitably, if not less laboriously, than in the erection of vast earth structures of this description; which, when finished, could not possibly have served him any useful purpose. His handful of weary followers probably found in a small stockade of logs a better defence, and one more obviously within their capabilities of construction.
- In addition to the above plans, Mr. Morris has kindly communicated accounts of several other interesting works; of none of which, however, he was able to p113 make surveys. One of these is situated three miles east of Panola, Mississippi, and closely resembles No. 3, Plate [XXXVIII]. It is accompanied by several remarkable mounds. A few miles south-east of Delta there is a square enclosure of some twenty acres area. It contains several mounds, one of which is forty feet in height, truncated, and ascended by a graded way. Within this enclosure there is also a square excavation, fifteen feet deep, and one hundred feet in diameter. It is surrounded by a low embankment of earth, three feet in height.
- These works are specially interesting from the fact that they partake more of the character of the works in the valley of the Ohio, than any other southern structures with which we are acquainted. The accompanying descriptions were furnished by Rev. R. MORRIS, of Mount Sylvan Academy, Lafayette county, Mississippi; the plans are from surveys by the same gentleman.
PLATE XXXVIII. No. 4. ANCIENT WORKS, PRAIRIE JEFFERSON, LOUISIANA.
This group of ancient works occurs on Prairie Jefferson, Moorhouse parish, Louisiana. They are minutely described by Prof. C. G. FORSHEY, in a letter to Prof. Silliman of New Haven, published, with the accompanying plan, in the American Journal of Science and Arts, vol. xlix. p. 38. For some interesting facts in addition to this account, acknowledgment is due to Dr. HARRISON, proprietor of the plantation upon which these remains are situated.