Notes on the Iroquois: or, Contributions to the Statistics, Aboriginal History, Antiquities and General Ethnology of Western New-YorkSchoolcraft, Henry Rowe
History
Notes on the Iroquois: or, Contributions to the Statistics, Aboriginal History, Antiquities and General Ethnology of Western New-York
Schoolcraft, Henry Rowe
Indians of North America -- New York (State); Iroquois Indians
The chief point, in addition to its numerous breaks in the wall,
before noticed, in which this work differs from the generality of
antique native forts of the oldest period in this State, is its very
well preserved elliptical form. A circle is the usual form of the
antique forts of Indian origin in western New-York; and these works are
generally placed on the apex of a hill, covered by ravines as a natural
moat, or they occupy an eminence which commanded other advantages. For
the original communication and survey, above referred to, see letter
E., documentary appendix.
[_e._] Vestiges of an Ancient Elliptical Work at Canandaigua.
The Senecas deduce their descent from a noted eminence, bearing the
title of “Fort Hill” at the head of the sylvan expanse of Canandaigua
lake. The term of Fort Hill, is however, not confined to that spot,
but is, as in the work under consideration, one of common occurrence,
in sundry parts of the ancient and extended area of the Six Nations.
The subjoined sketch, denotes the vestiges of an ancient strong-hold
of the Senecas, of an elliptical form, on elevated lands about a mile
northerly from the village.
[Illustration]
This work has been nearly obliterated by the plough. The only portions
of the ancient wall yet remaining, are indicated by the letters B.
B. At A, a dwelling house has been erected, flanked by gardens. C,
is a turnpike or rectangular town road, passing over the apex of the
elevation. The dotted angular lines denote fields in cultivation,
and the dotted ellipses, through these grounds, are laid down from
tradition, rather than from any well defined vestiges in these fields
of the original wall yet visible. D,D, represents a native forest.
Judging from the curves of the portions of wall entire at B,B, in
connection with the era pointed out by the occupant, this work may have
had a circumference of one thousand feet. It occupied a commanding
site. The sections of the wall remaining, denote the labor of many
hands, and if this rampart was crowned with palisades, and secured in
the usual manner with gates, it must not only have furnished a garrison
to a large body of warriors, but have been a work of much strength.
In excavating the grounds for the road, in the approach to the village,
human bones were found, in considerable quantities, on the descent
of the hill, together with some of the usual vestiges of ancient
Indian art, as evinced in the manufacture of stone and clay pipes and
implements. Nothing of this kind had, however, been preserved, which
appeared worthy of particular description.
[_c._] Ancient entrenchments on Fort Hill, near Le Roy, Genesee county.
The following diagram of this work has been drawn from a pen-sketch,
forwarded by the Rev. Mr. Dewey, of Rochester.
[Illustration]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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