Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-09-26
ANTIQUITIES.

ANTIQUITIES.
We have been politely furnished with
the following description Ct some OF the
numerous evidences this state I'm com
mon with the whole Western country,
affords of its having been formerly in
habited By set of people unknown to
| historians.
On the quarter section Of land which
Mr. Torrant occupies in Junes's Val
| ley, alabama is a regular circular en-
trenchmcnt, enclosing about six acres
of land; on the margin of and within
it are oak trees of as large size as any
on the surrounding field, some Of which
are 80 to SO inches diametcr-the
height Of the breast work from within
is about foot, and from without about
two feet high, their being around it a
kind of ditch or excavation, made by
the earth being thrown up to form the
breast work. That tits has been done,
is very apparent from the color of earth
on the top of it being nearly the same
as that every where around il after dig
cling below the soil. Within the circu-
lar the soil is uncommonly rich and
fertile. In a narrow Swamp also ad.
Joining it are some small mounds and
dikes or causeways, evidently Of hu-
man workmanship. About three or
four miles further up the Valley is an
other very remarkable Mound, sur
rounded in part, as was told by the
man who lives adjoining it, by SINH.
lar entrenchment TO the one above des-
cribed, and a part Of which | myself
saw, comprising about rs or 80 acres.
This Mound is of pretty regularly
square form and about no feet on each
side at the base, regularly contracted
on each side in an angle Of about As or
50 deg. Its height is so or SO feet, &
it is pretty level at top, and covered
with girdled oak timber Of the largest
size Of upland oak in this country one
of the trees being nearly orqAite three
feet diameter. On its sides also are
large trees, shrubs, briars and flower
ing pIants, some of which trees have
perhaps for ages past been falling oc-
casionally, and dragging the earth with
their roots from the steep side of the
Mound, some of which are even now
lying in that situation; and to this cause
and the ordinary operation of the ele
ments, attribute what of irregularlty
appears in its form; the top Of it was
last year plarted with corn, and G.
very tree upon it sacrilegiousIy killed.
The whole superfces very rich and fer
tile, and he must be sceptic indeed
who should Doubt Of its having been a
work Of art.
On one side the Mound. and at the
distance of @ or 2 rods from it, runs
rapid creek Of considerable size,
which in time of freshcs oycrflows its
banks to a considerable leighton this
side there is no appearance of the en-
trenchment, that extending only from
the creek Oh one side Of the Mound a.
round to the creek on the other side.
Whether there ever was one which has
within ages past been swept away by
the waters of the creek ornot, is a mat
ter of conjecture.
Near the Mound are about fifteen
pounding hortars, wrought in solid i'm
movable limestone rocks Of a perfectly
regular form, and in almost perfect
state of preservation, two or three only
Of which ] saw the dimensions OF one
which measured were seven inches
d ameter at tho top. and seven inches
deep, very regularly contracted to an
obtuse point, with flat perfectly circu-
lar brim around it Of l-2 or 5 inches
breadth, wrought on the surface of the
rock, and sunk little below the gene
raj surface, giving the mortar with the
brim very much the appearance of a
Quaker's broad brimmed hat bottom
upwards. The number of them learn
ed by the man who now occupies the
ground. alabama Republican.
TIE WAY TO BE HAPPY.