village
site, and has some features about it which are regarded as of a
religious nature. The hill on which it stands is in most places very
steep towards the river. A ravine starts from near the upper end on the
eastern side, gradually deepening towards the south, and finally turns
abruptly towards the west to the river. By this means nearly the whole
work occupies the summit of a detached hill, having in most places
very steep sides. To this naturally strong position fortifications were
added, consisting of an embankment of earth of unusual height, which
follows close around the very brow of the hill. This embankment is
still in a fine state of preservation, but is now annually exposed
to cultivation and the inroads of cattle, so that it will not be long
before it will be greatly changed if no effort be made to preserve it.

Illustration of Fort Ancient, Little Miami River.-------

This wall is, of course, the highest in just those places where the
sides of the hill are less steep than usual. In some places it still has
a height of twenty feet. We notice the wall has numerous breaks in it.
Some of these are where it crosses the ravines, leading down the sides
of the hill. In a few cases the embankment may still be traced to within
a few feet of a rivulet. Considerable discussion has ensued as to the
origin and use of these numerous gateways. Mr. Squier thinks that these
openings were occupied by timber work in the nature of blockhouses
which have long since decayed. Others, however, think that the wall was
originally entire except in a few instances, and that the breaks now
apparent were formed by natural causes, such as water gathering in
pools, and musk-rats burrowing through the walls, and we are told that
such an opening was seen forming in the year 1847.<72> No regular ditch
exists inside the wall, the material apparently being obtained from
numerous dug holes.

It will be seen that the works could be naturally divided into two
parts, connected by the isthmus. More than one observer has pointed out
the resemblance in general outline of this work to a map of North
and South America, but of course the resemblance, if any, is entirely
accidental. Mr. Peet has called attention to the resemblance which the
walls of the lower inclosure bear to two serpents, their heads being the
mounds, which are separated from the body by the opening which resembles
a ring around the neck. Their bodies are the walls, which, as t