The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1885-02-25

fortune OF your correspondent to once nC-
company geologo-picnic party TO the fort
and, thinking a short account Of the place
would be interesting to your readers, I
have concluded to publish the result Of my
meRgre investigation. After arriving at
lur destination we prepared 20 take the
fort, ' which we did after brief skirnish
the laborious feature Of which consisted
in climbing q very steep hill. Once in
trenched within the fortihcaNou we at
once, like Robson Crusoe, proceeded to
consider ourselves "mouarchs Of all we
surveyed, and to explore our new possess
sous.
The enclosure is situated in Warren
county, about six miles southeast of this
city, aud oyerlooks the Little Miami river.
Whatever may have been the design Of its
builders, 1t certainly occupies one of the
strongest positions I'm the State. The river
runs is q southerly direction, and the fort
is situated on plateau ON it's east bank at
vertical height Of two hundred and thirty
feet This plain is nearly level, and is al
most surrounded 10y two raviues which
originate on its east side and, diverging,
sweep around, one to the north and one to
the south, and Join i'm the river valley.
Thus we have q dry land peninsula sur
rounded on almost every side by precipi-
tous slopes varying from fifty TO five hun
dred feet, and 80 steep that the summit If
guarded by n small garrison would be abb
SOlutely inaccessible, even TO q modern
army. The position, naturally strong is
still further strengthened by an eOrlhen
wall constructed on the very brow Of the
hill aud extending entirely around, and tits
this that makes It one of the greatest works
of the kiud in the world It has been care
fully surveyed aud is described in nearly
all ,vDrl.s n, arabn,lpuv Tho oup1ogura
contains but little over one hundred
acres, but the wall is five miles in length.
This wall varies in size, ranging from five
to seven feet in height aud from ten to
seventy i'm width at the base. Ii is built Of
n tough diluvial clay ami contains about
G2S, 600 cubic Yards of excavation. This
represents 1886 600 cubic feet, or nearly
| ], 100000 tons, which is probably low es-
innate, siuce the bsse is composed of rocks
which have been carried up from the river
below. When we take thsee thugs into
consideration we can see what bonanza it
must have been for the contractors if they
bed the people at that time as they do to-
| day
| The wall is not continuous. but is broken
| by over severity guleways, having width
/ of ten to fifteen feet each.
| There are other points Of interest in its
construction which will be developed in
connection with the theories regarding their
use. Nearly all the cOuje ctures advanced
tend to one Of two things either that il was
used rs a means of defense or as a place for
religious ceremonies.
The enclosure is shaped something like a
figure s, the northern part being the larger.
At the na row part the passage between
the north aud south forts is less than two
rods wide aud is projected by two short
walls aud two mounds, forming a sort of a
gateway. bearing about the same relation
to the enclosure as the Isthmus of Panama
does to North and South America.
just outside the north fort are two circu-
lar mounds of considerable size. From
these two parallel walls, about three feet
high aud sixty feet apart, run eastward
about one fourth of a mile, where they Join,
enclosing a mound in the circular end. At
u depth Of two or three feet below the sur
face is found a road, similar to a modern
turnpike, paved with wuter-woru stones
FROM the river, which is a half mile dis
taut from the nearest point Of the road. As
there is no evidence that these people had
any way of carrying this vast amount Of
stone other than by hand-possibly in bas-
kets-it must have required an Incredible
amount of labor. Perhaps this work was
the penalty imposed upon those who par
took too freely of 'vhe oil Of gladuess.
Some think that this with its highway lead
ing out to it was place for making sacri-
J fees, others that it was intended for foot
races aud other games and amusemeuts.
1 On he steep slope next to the river are
three parallel terraces which must have
been intended as a further DEF, nse against
the canoes of any enemy that might at
tempt au attack from the river.
Within the fort proper are no less than
twenty four reservoirs which would hold
? enough water for great number Of be-
seiged. Another indication that it was in
tended as q work Of defense, is the fact that
large henps of water-wOru stones are found
D in many places. These stones were no
f doubt carried from the river as the water
q marks on them prove cOucusively. It has
y, been estimated that the fort furnished am,
j pie room for 60, 600 men with their families
It and provisions. The fort is now partly
- under cultivation aud one of the farmers
4 living near by, who had evidently not given
- the subject much study, gave il as his Opiu
d ion that the structure was built by the Is
k raetes.
n One theory is that the south part has once
-, been a monster grave yard, aud that il wal
reserved as an asylum Of last resort. Ihil
u would be In accordance with the vel
d known instinct Of all uatiOns TO prOtec
.e their dead aud to place them where thel
could defend them the longest. These cir
cumstances, together with the fact that 81
10 many primitive weapons have been found
10 all go to show that lt was a veritable fort
20 have cOuversed with O number Of iuteli
gent men who live here aud found that sew
" eral opinions are entertained in regard T.
ls lts use and founders. The place has Deel
visited by almost every arch@ologist Of not
o- N Europe aud America, aud most of then
. agree that Ft Ancient has at one time bee
10 most powerful military centre. Blu
f. when All, that's the question, Grea
Is oaks have lived aud died on it walls Count
,s less genera ion have sprung up and pei
ished since the time when the old fort wa
all RglOw with the blaze of her camp fire
'u and re suuaut with The simple 30 gs of be
s- primaJive occupants. Upon entering it on
he cannot fail to be impressed br its great al
iqUity. Judges DuuleY and Force estimal
We il age at 600 years, while Mr.. Hasea, Esq
re of Cincinnati, who is good authort,
places il at several thousand years. Bl
h. she ever stands a living monument Of Ii
energy and toll of primitive ages, serenel
49, keeping watch over the gliding river at ht
rs base. Forests now cover that part of ii
m fort which can not be cultivated and thi
an together with the picturesque scenery a
OO joining, makes IL a pleasant place TO rust
,u- cate for a day or two during the summe
lly and IL is not necessary TO say that this pri
ld iIaDp has beeD abuudautlv taken adVnutnf