Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1848-11-30
American Authorities.


contains the following account of curious earth
work in Ohio: ;, -.
The GREAT SERPENT, ADAMS County, Ohio
Probably the most extraordinary earth-work thus
far discovered at the West, is the Great Serpent,
of which faithful deneation is given in the plate.
1t is stuted on Brush Creek, at point known as
IS Three Forks, on entry 1914, near the north line
of Adams county, Ohio, No plan or description
has hitherto been published nor does the fact OF
its existance appear to have been known beyond
the vicinity in which it occurs. The notice first
received by the authors of these researches, was
exceedingly vague and indefinite. and led to the
conclusion that II was work of defence, with
bas,ons at regular intervals-a feature so ex-
,raordinary as to induce visit, which resulted
in the discovery here presented. The true
character Of the work is spparen. on the first
inspection. -, n
1t is situated on a. high crescen,,form hill or
spur Of land. rising $50 fee, above the level OF
Brush Cieek, which washes its base. The
side of The E,l nexi the stream presents per-
pendicular wall Of rock. while the oher sub
sides rapidly, slough it. is no, SO sleep as 10
preclude cultivation. The top Of the hill is no,
level, bu, slightly convex. and presents a very
even surface. $50 fee. wide by 1000 feet long,
measuring from its extremty,t0 the point where
i. connects with The table iand.r ,.,.
Conforming 10 the curve OF the hill and occu-
pying its very summit. is the serpent, its head
resting near the pon, and its body winding
back for 700 feet in graceful, undula,ions. ter
o ho
length, extended. would no, be less than | 900
feet. The accompanying plan laid down from
accurate survey, can alone gIse an adequate
conception of The outline Of The work, which is
clearly and boldly defined. 81, j.. .,
The embankment is upwards Of five fee, in
height by thirty feet base, at the centre of the
body, diminishing toward The head and the tail.
The neck Of the Serpen. is stretched ou. and
slightly cursed, and iis mouth wids, a. if in the
&C, OF, swallowing or ejec,ing an oval figure,
which rests partially wi'hla the dis.ended
jaws This osel i, formed by an embankmenl
Of the earth, wirhou, any pefcepnbe opening,
is four fee, in height, and is perfectly regular
in outline, it's transverse and conjuga,e dame
,ers being 80 and l80 feet respectively. The
ground within the oval is slightly elevated +; a.
small circular elevation Of large stones much
burned, once existed in ns centre, bu, these
have all been thrown down and scattered by
some ignorant visitor, under tho prevailing i'm
preston, probably. that gold was hidden be-
meath iheni The poin, Of the hiIl,, within
which this egg-shaped figure rests, seems to
have been anlfciay cut 10 conform TO its out
line, leaving smooth platform 10 fee, vide
and some hat inclined iaward, all around it.
Upon either side. of the Serpenl's head ex-
tend two small triangular elevations ten or
twelve feet over. They are not high, and al
though too distinct 10 be overlooked are yet
too much obli,era,ed TO be satisfactorily uaced.
Besides platform or level oval terrace, and a
large mound in The centre of the Is,hmus con.
Meeting the hill with the table land beyond
there are no other remains, excepting lew
mounds. within six or eight. mlles-nOne, per-
haps, nearer than The enirenrhed hill in High
land county, ihrteen miles distant. There are
a number of works, lower down, on Brush
Creek, towards its mouth, but their character
is no, ye, known.
The pom. on which this curiosity occurs
commands an extensive prospect, overlooking
the "bottoms" at the junction Of the three prin-
cipal tributaries OF the creek. The aluvia
terraces are here quite extensive and u IL
matter Of surprise .ha. no works occur upon
them. ~
The Serpent, separate or in combination
with the circle, egg or globe, has been pre-
domi9an., symbol among primitive ,ns',ons.-
|, prevailed in Egyp, Greece aud Assyfia, and
entered widely INTO the supers,l,ons Of the
CeIt,, the Hindoos. and The Chinese. q II even
penetrated IN America and was conspicuous
IN the mythology of the ancien, Mex'cAns. al
though It's Significance does no, seem TO have
materially differed from iha, which it possessed
in The Old World. The fact lba, The ancient
Cells. and perhaps other ps'ions oflhe old con-
tinen, erected temple sIrue,ures in the form of
the serpent, is. one. of high interest. OF
this description is the temple Of Aub'y. in Eng
land. in many respects tho mos, imposing an.
Glen, monument of the British Islands. +.
Ii is impossible, in lhls connection, TO trace
the analogies, W hlch the Ohip structures exhlhl,
10 the serpent temples Of England or to p"ln'
ou, the extent TO which the symbol was applied
in America. an investigation ftaugh, with ,he
greatest interest, BOTH in respec, to the lighI
which i reflects on the prlwiuye ,sapers.i!ions
Of remotely separated people, and especially
in the origin Of The American race.