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Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
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A report from Charles-Town describes ancient circular forts in the Kentucky country, admired for their construction on strong ground near water, with uncertain origins predating current Indians, accompanied by pyramid-shaped earth mounds containing chalky substances believed to be human bones.
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The number of old forts found in the Kentucky country are the admiration of the curious, and a matter of much speculation. They are mostly of a circular form, situated on strong, well chosen ground, and contiguous to water. When, by whom, and for what purpose, these were thrown up, is uncertain. They are certainly very ancient, there not being the least visible difference in the age or size of the timber growing on or within these forts, and that which grows without; and the oldest natives have lost all tradition respecting them. They must have been the efforts of a people much more devoted to labour than our present race of Indians: and it is difficult to conceive how they could be constructed without the use of iron tools. At a convenient distance from these always stands a small mount of earth, thrown up in the form of a pyramid, and seems in some measure proportioned to the size of its adjacent fortification. On examination, they have been found to contain a chalky substance, supposed to be bones, and of the human kind. From a description of Kentucky.
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Where did it happen?
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Kentucky Country
Event Date
August 25.
Event Details
The number of old forts found in the Kentucky country are the admiration of the curious, and a matter of much speculation. They are mostly of a circular form, situated on strong, well chosen ground, and contiguous to water. When, by whom, and for what purpose, these were thrown up, is uncertain. They are certainly very ancient, there not being the least visible difference in the age or size of the timber growing on or within these forts, and that which grows without; and the oldest natives have lost all tradition respecting them. They must have been the efforts of a people much more devoted to labour than our present race of Indians: and it is difficult to conceive how they could be constructed without the use of iron tools. At a convenient distance from these always stands a small mount of earth, thrown up in the form of a pyramid, and seems in some measure proportioned to the size of its adjacent fortification. On examination, they have been found to contain a chalky substance, supposed to be bones, and of the human kind.