I infer that this peninsula, which I should say
contains some seventy acres has been formed since the mound--which
from its position seems for observation as well as for sepulture--was
begun. Some 200 yards down the point from the grand mound occurs
another small mound. This is some eight or ten feet high, and fifty or
sixty feet across. Along the point and close past this small mound
runs an old water course, now a treeless hay meadow. At high water in
spring, as I ascertained, the river still sends its surplus water by
this old channel. My position is that the 200 yards of earth between
the site of the grand mound and that of the small mound was deposited
after the grand mound was begun, and before the commencement of the
small mound. Undoubtedly this small mound as well as a similar one not
far up the river from the grand mound, were begun on account of the
laborious work of carrying bones and earth to such a height, and on
account of the numerous interments which have left the surface of the
grand mound a bone pile. This is shown by the small mound being on a
site more recent than that of the large mound. Suppose a hundred years
to have sufficed to raise the small mound to its height when the
devastating ruin of the Sioux slaughtered the last mound builder and
checked the mound. From our previous position this would represent a
point some 500 years ago. But during this 500 years according to our
hypothesis all of the point of land below the small mound, that is to
say, about 300 yards in length, has been formed.
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