Page:Anthropology.djvu/76

Rh Jones' Station. These papers were placed in my possession January 26, 1880. On the 27th of the month, in company with Mr. John W. Erwin, I started to locate the works. Although it had been nearly thirty-eight years since Mr. Erwin visited the spot and assisted in the survey, and made the original delineation, he recognized the spot and the plan of the works as preserved in the papers of James McBride.

These works were located on the southeastern slope of one of the highest hills in the vicinity. The hill is a detached one and surrounded entirely by one of the richest valleys in the State. Between it and the uplands toward the north was originally a swamp. This swamp was drained at the expense of and under the direction of the State. Through it passes the Miami Canal. The hill is composed of a yellowish clay, having been formed during that period known as the glacial or drift Its summit is about 225 feet higher than, the city of Hamilton.

The works are now entirely obliterated. There is not the slightest evidence that they ever existed. We searched in vain. They occurred in both Fairfield and Union Townships, on section 15 of the former and 9 of the latter. The township line passing through the works, if extended southward, would terminate at the foot of Broadway, in Cincinnati. The work marked A is wholly in Fairfield Township, while the township line passes through the center of the smallest circle, marked B. The same line passes on a fraction of the wall of the largest circle, C. On the summit of the hill, Fairfield Township, section 15, is a mound composed of yellow clay, about 5 feet high, from the top of which a commanding view of the surrounding country may be obtained. It probably belongs to that class of mounds known as signal stations. It would be impossible to tell the original height of this tumulus. The plow for fifty-two successive years has accomplished all this destruction.

James McBride came to this county in the year 1808; and, as he early took an interest in antiquities, it is probable he saw these works before the forest trees had been cut away. He and John W. Erwin surveyed the works May 7, 1842. The following is a verbatim copy of Mr. McBride's description:

"Saturday May 7, 1842.—Went, in company with John W. Erwin, civil engineer, and James McBride, jr., to an ancient work in Butler County, Ohio, six miles southeast from the town of Hamilton, on the lands of James Beaty. The work is situated principally on section No. 9, town 3, range 2, M. E., about 30 poles south of the N. W. corner of the section. On measuring the main part of the work it was found to be a true circle 3 ch. 5 links in diameter. The ground was cleared some 14 or 15 years ago, and has been cultivated since that time, consequently the height of the embankment has been much reduced. Previous to cultivation the embankment was fully three feet high above the natural surface of the ground. Inside of the embankment was a ditch two feet deep, making a perpendicular height of about 5 feet from the bottom of the ditch to the top of the bank.