The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1879-09-05
TWO ANCIENT FORTS.
Ruins of Prehistoric Earthworks in the
Michigan Woods.


August 10th contains the following
description of the remains of two
ancient forts on Rifle river, in that
State:
There are two of these forts, and an
examination of the upper one, which
is situated on a high bank near the
river, and ABOUT % feet above the
water, showed the Enclosure to be reg
ular in form, round or rather OblOng,
the longest distance being north and
south. The works consist of ditch
and earth embankment, which was
found to be about $50 feet in circum-
ference, and about five feet from the
bottom of the trench to the top of the
embankment, which appears to have
been greatly reduced in height by ex-
posure to the elements. Inside the
embankment the ground is very level,
save where trees grow, and there have
been some large ones.
There are four entrances to this in
closure, one facing each of the cardinal
points of the compass. These entrances
or gateways are about wide enough to
admit the passage of a wagon. In
stead of the trench being completed
around the entrance, and bridging the
same, it terminates on each side of the
passage way, where narrow strip of
ground appears not to have been dis
turbed. These openings were undoubt-
edly protected by gates. On top of the
embankment was rampant of logs
with a palisade. There can scarce be
any doubt of this, as the remains of
charred wood are found in different
parts of the embankment. On the
right hand side of each passage way
leading out, the embankment is higher
than in other places.
About eight years ago the pine tim
Der here was cut off. BY counting the
rings or yearly growth on pine stump
which stood on the embankment, it
was found to contain 264, which, to-
gether with the eight years since the
tree was cut, makes this work at least
272 years old-long before the days OF
the Jesuit missionaries, or the first
whites that history records, which was
in the year 1641-23S years ago. Thus
it will be seen that the date of this
work is anterior to the first permanent
English settlement upon the American
continent, and about the days of Queen
Elizabeth of England.
The timber that now stands within
the surroundings has grown since the
trees found within this Enclosure and
those surrounding appear to be of about
the same size and age. Within about
GO rods, overlooking this work, are
situated hills that rise, perhaps, 100
feet above the surroundings, showing
that the builders of the defense did not
expect artillery to be used against it.
The other fort, which is the larger of
the two, is situated three miles further
down the river, and is much more i'm
posing and impressive in appearance.
Like the other, this is situated near
the river on a slight eminence, and
contains the same general characters
tics-four entrances at right angles
north, south, east and west. Here the
embankment in some places is 10 feet
high. The circumference of this work
is over 800 feet. AS in the other case,
large trees grew on the embankment,
and within tho Enclosure there was
one above four feet in diameter. In
the center of the western gateway
stands large hemlock tree, and the
surroundings are covered with q thick,
heavy growth of live timber. One
tree which had been cut down near the
edge of the Enclosure was over four feet
in diameter, and by counting tho sue
cessive rings or circles of wood was
found to be about 800 years old.