these forms are circles or portions of a circle. They are not proper crescents, such as we would expect people to use to designate the moon, and it also seems to me if they were intended to represent the sun there would be something in the nature of rays, extending from the circle. This is also to be said, that we have to distinguish, whether these works are in themselves symbolical, or did they mark a place where religious exercises were held. It seems to me that if they were in themselves symbolical, we would not find a number of them located in the same neighborhood. For instance, in plate 23, we notice no fewer than nine of these small circular enclosures and all of them have at least one opening. Now when we recollect that it took no little labor to form one of these circles and excavate the ditch, we can scarcely believe that a people in the state of culture that the "Mound Buildare known to have been in, would go to all this work, simply

ers

Fig. 3.

to throw up nine symbolic embankments when one would have done just as well. The mere fact that they made nine of them would seem to prove that they were for some utilitarian purpose, though what that use was, is of course now unknown. Referring to the figures above, especially to their dimensions, I find that the larger circles enclosed a trifle over an acre, and that the smaller two enclosed a trifle over a quarter of an acre. But it is evident that

quite a body of people could find protection in either one of these areas. Now does it not seem more reasonable to you to suppose that these circles were fortified embankments thrown around the camp of a "Gens," that each "Gens" of a tribe would make themselves a separate encampment. Take plate 32, No. 4. We have here four of these small circles the area of which is a trifle over one acre near together. If these are simply sacred inclosures I do not beleive that they would have gone to the trouble of throwing up four of them. The fact that they did make four so near together shows, to my mind, that they made them for some useful purpose, and I think they were for the encampment of a portion of the tribe. Such figures as are given by Mr. Conant, that is the triangles and pentagons whose sides show such nice proportions, I can only express myself skeptical as to their existence. Figs. 3 and 4. If it be a fact that they were thrown up in the manner he states and in such nice proportions, then I should say at once that they were symbolical in design,but you know that no one has succeed

ed in finding them except Pidgeon, and you know there is a great deal of skepticism about his finding them at all. There are some other figures given in Squier and Davis that I confess are rather puzzling to understand. For instance, plate 34, No. 2. I can see no sense at all in it, or any use that it could have been put to, and to be candid, I don't know whether it ever existed or not, in the shape in which it is delineated. The Portsmouth works are to me a puzzle. I don't know what to say in regard to them. I have no theory even. If there are any symbolical works of the "mound builders" at all I should place this group among that number. Plate 30, No. 4 is another very singular structure. You have already remarked on its similiarity and resemblance to a "rattlesnake." You know what Mr. Pidgeon has to say in reference to these five mounds. He calls them "vanishing points." I understand that Dr. Phene thinks they represent the rattles. As for myself I have no theory on the point. You have called attention to some of the walls which you suggest resemble serpents. Every one must see the resemblance of some of them to a serpent, but the question in my mind is whether that resemblance was premeditated or is accidental. Of course embankments that follow the general contour of the hills, would in time, instead of having angles, gracefully curve, and so resemble serpents, but whether the builders intended any such form is a question with me. But to conclude this somewhat rambling letter, let me call your attention to the plates. You will see that I am right when I assert that there is no particular type in that valley. We notice works of various shapes. There are squares with two circles, with three circles, or with none at all. There are large and small circles. I would be in favor of calling them simply enclosures and be cautious before deciding that any of them are symbolical in their nature.

Fig. 4.

Yours very truly,

E. A. ALLEN.

A FORTIFICATION AND A CEMETERY AT

DAYTON, OHIO.

Editor American Antiquaran :

There is an enclosure on the Bluffs about two miles south of Dayton, which I think has been described, but I have not seen the description. It is now included in the Catholic cemetery and is rapidly disappearing. Mr. Shinn, of Dayton, surveyed and mapped this work and kindly furnished me with a copy. The form is an irregular ellipse, which resulted from following the highest ground. The wall, which averages about three feet high and ten feet broad, is formed of surface material, hence clay enters largely in its composition. But the south part of the circumvallation, which traverses a gravel ridge, is formed to a great extent of gravel and boulders, which has led some to the erroneous conclusion that this section had been paved.

An interesting feature in the work is a broad and deep ditch which commences at the south-west corner and extends some fifty yards in a nearly north-east direction. The object of this excavation is difficult to explain, as it is not probable that it furnished material for the entire wall, and no other depression has been discovered. It is clearly no ravine, as the bottom presents a regular rounded, and in some instances, level outline; moreover, the declivity is not sufficiently abrupt to justify such a conclusion; and yet, strangely enough, the wall appears to have been built across it, while the cut is continued beyond for the space of a few yards to the crest of the cliff.

Possibly a tunnel at this point served as an outlet for the drainage of the south part of the enclosure. This hypothesis is weakened however, by the reflection that other parts of the enclosure have no such provision. But perhaps, as Mr. McLean has given his readers, in his "Mound Builders," a description of the Lower Twin or Carlisle Works (though in some instances erroneous and exaggerated) I shall omit any special reference to it.

Since I wrote my article on the ash heaps of the Miami valley, I have read Mr. Langdon's description of the Madisonville discov eries in Prof. Short's book. The deposites of ashes he describes appear to be identical with those discovered by Prof. Putnam, referred to in your letter.

I visited the prehistoric cemetery at Dayton, and found the developments deeply interesting, and at the same time very perplexing. The difficulty arises from the apparently anomalous character of the interments, in which are blended characteristics of the Mound-builder and the Indian.

A tolerably clear conception of this feature may be gathered from the following description of the locality: The cemetery is situated on the left bank of Stillwater, near its mouth. The discovery was made last summer while constructing a levee, the material for which was taken from the space between the levee and the bank of the river. The removal of about twenty inches of

surface material revealed patches of burned clay, under which reposed the remains, with fragments of pottery, mussel shells, implements of bone and deer's horn. The shells are remarkably well preserved. The margins are worked off smooth, and the rough outer coat removed. Some of the shells were perforated.

The quality of this pottery is excellent. Sand and finely comminuted shells enter into its composition. The evidence is clear that the vessels had been moulded in a cloth sack, as the imprint of the cloth is very distinct. An interesting specimen in my collection shows the charred fibres of the cloth still imbedded, which if we had no other evidence, demonstrates that the ware was subjected to the action of fire, destroying the sacks in the process.

The slight covering, in connection with the sound condition of the relics, is suggestive of Indian burial, while the superior quality of the pottery, the baked clay envelope, and the unmistakable evidence of a knowledge of weaving in those days, may be claimed as arguments in support of a civilization immeasurably in advance of the wandering savage.

Should we regard this and similar discoveries as evidence of decadence or declining energy? Or as indicating a radical change in the mode of sepulture from cremation to inhumation? Or is it due to changed conditions which resulted from the disruption of the old Empire, a commingling of forms?

The extent of this old burial place has not been determined as no excavations have been made where the soil is undisturbed From indications it covers many square rods.

Since I wrote last, I have come in possession of the "Dayton image." Also a donation from Mr. P. I. Pease, of Dayton, comprising 23 pestals; 2 beautiful maces, or war badges; 3 "rolling pins;" 20 axes, grooved; 12 do. plain; fleshers and gouges 6; hammers, grooved 7; plain 11; anvils 2; miscellaneous 6; including a veritable tablet, but of comparatively recent date, namely, 1720, clearly cut on the upper margin of a sandstone slab, ten inches by seven and 5% of an inch in thickness. It was evidently sawn from a boulder with a yellowish-white nucleus in the composition, of which quartz enters largely. The striæ made by the saw are distinctly perceptible. It was found in a plowed field near Bellbrook, Green Co., O. As to its authenticity there is no doubt, but the object had in view is left to conjecture. No inscription. A minute cross (thus †) is seen on the right hand side of the date, placed there as a period probably. Also a cup, weighing two pounds, material green ribboned shale, capacity about one gill; the cavity is very well executed. The rounded, pot-like form seems to be due to the rotary motion of a round-ended pivot of sandstone. It is probable that we have here a genuine paint pot. The front teeth of the male skeleton which I exhumed some years ago were colored blue, and like the Indians, it is highly probable that the Mound-builders improved (?) their appearance by a liberal use of red ochre, hence the neccessity for a vessel of some sort in which to prepare it. As heat destroys the color of this

beautiful mineral, it is not probable that this object was used as a Very respectfully yours, S. H. BINKLEY.

lamp.

Alexandersville, O.

MOUND BUILDERS' RELICS FROM INDIANA.

Editor American Antiquarian:

I herewith send you a description of some of the relics which I have in my collection. (1.) An unusually large amulet of the type often called "saddle stone or brooding ornaments, or "bird,” "duck," amulet. This was found on the bottom land, about fifty rods from the Wabash river, seven miles south of Peru, Ind. I have found on the same farm numerous arrows, axes, fleshers, and three perforated tablets. The amulet to which I refer is unlike any other that I have owned. The body and especially the head are much larger. The head resembles a mammal. The stone has no perforations. Last week I procured an amulet of this same type, but of a more common form. It is highly finished but has no perforations. During the last seven years I have located some twenty of these amulets though the most of them I have disposed of. I have at present five of the above type. (2.) A Tablet which is of considerable importance as it has cup-shaped impressions upon

it.

This I came across last week. The impressions are similar to those described by Dr. Charles Rau, in his monograph Contributions to Am. Eth. Vol. V, Type 1, Fig. 1. (the common form.) The Tablet is in the collection of Dr. John W. Hall, Sweetzer, Grant Co., Indiana. The Tablet was found on the surface and in the same field, on the same day, one broken ceremonial axe, perforated, double bladed and one crescent perforated mace. These were in good condition. They may possibly have been the relics of Mound Builders or they may have belonged to Indians. (3.) I have a relic which differs from any thing I have yet seen. It resembles a spade or digging implement, as it slopes to the edge, yet does not show any more polish at the edge than any other part of the stone. It is made out of slate. If it had been used for digging it would surely give more evidence of use than it does. What is most interesting in the implement is, that it has a deep groove running the whole length but gradually running out. The groove shows traces of polish as if it had been placed in a handle and used as a spade. There is a notch at the upper part where the groove is deepest as if the handle had been fitted to the stone.

(4.) A specimen made out of cannel coal was found 56 miles east of a gravel bank east of Portland, Jay Co., Ind. It was found with five human skeletons. I have in my collection over 100 implements made from slate or greenstone, five quartz implements, one of them a discoidal stone found in Miami Co., Ohio, one "boat shaped" implement, Grant Co., Ohio, one "ceremonial axe," Miami Co., Ohio, others found in Morrow Co., Ohio. These are finely polished and are interesting relics. J. R. NISSLEY,

Bunker Hill, Miami Co., Ind.