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Rh  with the smaller works to the S. E. Probably communications might have existed throughout from one work to the other, though they cannot now be distinctly traced.

"The embankments of these works are of a bright yellow clay, different from that which appears on the surface of the surrounding ground, hence the form of the works can be distinctly seen and traced as far as the eye can see them."

 

In the counties of Boyle and Mercer, State of Kentucky, there are a number of mounds, graves, &c., which were constructed by former inhabitants of the country, and many aboriginal implements have been found. On the map of Boyle and Mercer Counties I have located all points of interest that I have been able to learn. They will be alluded to more particularly in the following notes by the letters that are connected with them. The point of greatest interest (A on the map) is situated on the west bank of Salt River, in Mercer County, a little north of its union with Boyle County, on a farm owned by Dr. Thomas Hyle. The first notice given of this point is found in "Collins' History of Kentucky," under the head of Mercer County. Speaking of ancient towns and fortifications, it says: "There are two of these, both on Salt River, about 4 miles above Harrodsburg, containing ditches and a mound 10 or 12 feet high, filled with human bones and broken pieces of crockeryware. On one side of the mound a hickory tree, about 2 feet in diameter, grew and was blown up by the roots, making a hole 3 or 4 feet deep. Its lower root drew up a large piece of crockery- ware which had been on some fire coals. The handle was attached to it, and human hair lay on the coals. This was probably a place of human sacrifice. The other ruins were about a mile and a half above this, both being on the west bank of Salt River. There is no mound near this, but only the remains dug out of ditches."

The ground has been cleared, and the continual cultivation of the land has filled up the ditches and removed all traces of any lines that once existed. The mound has also been removed by the plow. From it have been taken, as cultivation yearly went on, the bones of a number of human skeletons, none of which were retained, few of them being in a good state of preservation; the skulls crushed to fragments and the soft ends of the bones, with few exceptions, gone entirely, I do not know that any relics have been taken from the mound proper, except some shell beads. The river bank here is only about 15 feet high, and the slope back from the river is not more than 2°. The mound stood 200 yards from the stream. Between those points there must have been a village of huts or some form of habitation; for even now, when the 