Ohio History Journal

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314 Ohio Arch

314 Ohio Arch. and His. Society Publications. [VOL. 3

hollow east of the structure, against which the builders seem to

have protected themselves with the greatest of care.

Washes and erosion. The fort walls do not easily erode,

being composed of very tough clay. They are covered with

shrubs and large trees, the roots of the latter, together with grass

and moss, forming a considerable protection against storms and

wearing paths such as the thousands of visitors to the enclosure

would undoubtedly make.

"Some ravines were probably small when the fortification

was built, and others were large and deep. The wall was carried

across the smaller ones, but stopped on the edge of the bank of

the larger ones. Many of these have since washed out, and the

washes in some of them are very old. A good idea of the age

of this fortification can be obtained by studying these washes.

Length of Embankment. Total length. 18,712.2 feet or

32/3 miles.

Two races fought for position and supremacy at Fort

Ancient. The one had a skull of Brachycephalic type, the

cranium of the other was Solichocephalic. One buried in hol-

lowed vaults or stone graves, the other underneath small mounds

rudely thrown up upon the terraces. Both were savages, the

"stone-grave people," being but a degree removed from their

enemies in that they were able to construct the fortification.

The proofs of the two races are:

(a) Two types of crania.

(b) Two modes of burial.

(c) Two classes of implements and pottery.

(d) Two kinds of lodge or house circles.

That neither of these peoples were "civilized" is set forth

in the manner employed in the construction of the embankments;

in the cemeteries, in the village site debris. Dark patches of

earth of the size of peck measure, several of which still retain

the imprint, the laced work of a basket around them, have been

found in the walls. In the village sites twenty-seven birds,

animals, fish and reptiles in ashes and cooking places have been

found, together with a multitude of bone shell, stone and clay

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Military Posts in the State of Ohio

Military Posts in the State of Ohio. 313

FORT ANCIENT, AN OUTLINE DESCRIPTION.

The accompanying map from the survey made under my

direction by Messrs. Fowke and Cowen will acquaint the reader

with the hillsides and the embankments. The walls run in very

crooked lines, always following the brink of deep ravines,

twisting and turning in the directions which would afford best

protection. The following briefly narrated facts regarding the

embankments should be carefully noted.

The composition is tough, glacial clay. A stone wall is

frequently found within the earth embankment. The stones

average in size 14x20 to 9x14 inches and in places remain stand-

ing to a height of eight feet. The earth from the top of the

embankment washes down and covers them, hence the wall can-

not be witnessed save by excavation.

Height and breadth. The embankments average 13� feet in

height. The average 431/2 feet wide at base, 4 feet at summit.

Maximum height 3391/2 feet. Minimum, 41/3 feet.

Number of gateways 74.

Number of natural washes, occasionally mistaken for gate-

ways 9.

Average length of walls between gateways, 239� feet.

Height above Atlantic Ocean level, 941 feet.

Divisions. The portion north of the Isthmus is called upon

the map New Fort. A better name is South Fort. The central

part, Middle Fort; the portion south of Great Gateway has been

called Old Fort. A better and not so confusing a name would

be South Fort.

Terraces, bastions, etc. There are artificial "roads" or

terraces extending around the hillsides on the river side of the

fortification. One or two short ones follow the foot of the wall

just east ot the Great Gateway for a few hundred yards. These

terraces are covered with stone graves. Many spurs or bastions

run out for varying distances from each gateway, and overlook

or command the ravine. This is particularly true of the great