Ft. Wayne's Historic Iroquois Fort Circa 800 A.D.

Ft. Wayne's Historic Iroquois Fort Circa 800 A.D.

Artist's depiction of Ft. Wayne's historic Iroquois fortification circa 800 A.D.

5 forts were constructed in Fort Wayne from 1715 to the abandonment of the last after the War of 1812. The oldest fort was constructed by the Iroquois around 800 A.D., but unlike its the later French, British and American fortifications this one can still be seen today.   

ALLEN COUNTY, INDIANA

The History of Allen County Indiana, 1880

“Prehistoric Remains” by R. S. Robertson:

     Northern Indiana has many proofs of the presence of this race recorded almost indelibly upon its soil, and they have left some of their monuments in Allen County, but not as many, nor so extensive, as ones found in Ohio or to the southern part of Indiana.

While some of them were pushing upward, and making great settlements along the tributaries of the Ohio, others had passed further up the Mississippi, discovered The great Lakes, and entered into quite extensive copper mining operations on the shores of Lake Superior. Colonies had occupied Michigan, and as far south in Indiana as the Kankakee, and it from them, we think, that Allen County received the marks of their occupation. All along the valley of Cedar Creek, in DeKalb County, their mounds and earthworks appear in considerable number, but decrease in number as we proceed southward onto Allen County, and we totally wanting in the southern portion of the county.

    Still further down the river, on the west side, opposite Antraps Mill, is a semi-circular fort with its ends on the riverbank.

A series of  horseshoe shaped forts extended from the St. Joseph River in Allen County, (north of Ft. Wayne) down the Maumee to Toldeo, Ohio. The width of each of the forts was 200 feet.  Another fort was also located just west of Allen County at the headwaters of the Eel River in Whitley County.

The linear walls of Fort Wayne's first fort  leads to the riverbank and are still distinguishable along with the exterior moat.  This embankment once held a wooden stockade.

The largest earthen wall of the Iroquois fort is on the end on the north side of the work.  The wall no longer encloses the two parallel walls that run to the river, because a part was destroyed from farming.

Directions to 222 burial mounds and earthworks in Indiana, Ohio West Virginia, Kentucky and Michigan can be found in the most comprehensive guide to the ancient world.

GET IT HERE!

Glenford Adena Stone Ceremonial Center To Open To Public

Glenford, Ohio, Adena Stone Ceremonial Center To Open To Public

Early map of Glenford Fort that was once surrounded by a six foot high stone wall.

   

  The Columbus Dispatch just reported that what is known as "Glenford Fort" is to open to the public.  The Coopriders had made efforts to have the large stone burial mound reconstructed after being demolished by a local amateur archaeologists.

I took this photo several years ago of large stone burial mound in the center of the complex.

 

Remnants of the stone wall after being demolished by the city of Columbus.

Recent photo of a remaining wall that is still a couple of feet high

The entrance to the ceremonial complex takes you through this stone sacred via.

Nephi Earthen Fort and Adjoining Graveyard Described in Jefferson County, New York

Earthen Fort and Adjoining Graveyard Described in Jefferson County, New York

Ancient  fort and adjoining graveyard located in Le Ray Township near Watertown

     In the same township with the foregoing work, and about four miles distant, in a northwest direction, is the work here represented. It occupies a small sandy elevation, situated in the midst of the low grounds. It is lozenge-shaped, and is the most regular of any ancient structure which has fallen under the notice of the author in the State. Where the lines are intercepted on the north, the ground is considerably elevated, and subsides abruptly, precluding the necessity of an embankment for defensive purposes. The sites of the ancient lodges, indicated by heaps of burned stones, calcined shells, fragments of pottery, etc., are yet to be traced, notwithstanding that the land has been for a considerable time under cultivation. Near this work skeletons have been frequently exhumed.

Mass Graveyard Discovered Within Prehistoric Earthen Fort in Jefferson County, New York

Mass Graveyard Discovered Within Prehistoric Earthen Fort in Jefferson County, New York

The slightest and much the rudest structure discovered in Jefferson county, is the one here delineated. It is situated about a hundred rods back from the brow of the terrace, already so often referred to, and which here rises abruptly from the inferior level, presenting a bold, and in some places, a precipitous bank.
Notwithstanding its elevation, this terrace has numberless depressions or basins, which are wet and marshy. Upon a slight elevation, in the midst of one of these, and still covered with a primitive forest, is the work in question. It will be observed that it is exceedingly irregular, and that the lines are interrupted by several wide openings, which are quite too broad to be regarded as gateways.
The embankment is not of uniform dimensions. In some places it is elevated but a foot or eighteen inches, by four or five feet base, while in others it is perhaps three feet in height. The ditch is also irregular,—in sections scarcely exceeding a large plough furrow in depth and width. In fact, the work seems imperfect, and to have been constructed in haste for temporary purposes. Within the area, which is quite uneven, are several small accumulations of stones, which bear the marks of fire. Upon removing some of them, the proprietor of the ground found ashes and other burnt matter, amongst which was a carbonized ear of maize. A small but entire vessel of pottery, of considerable symmetry of shape, was also found here some years since.
Human bones have been discovered beneath the leaves; and in nearly every part of the trench skeletons of adults of both sexes, of children, and infants, have been found, covered only by the vegetable accumulations. They seem to have been thrown together promiscuously. They have also been found in a narrow depression resembling an artificial trench, indicated by a dotted line in the plan, and caused by the subsidence of the earth in a cleft of the limestone substratum. These skeletons, from all accounts, do not seem to have been much decayed, and no difficulty was experienced in recovering them entire. The skulls were in some cases fractured, as if by a blow from a hatchet or club. These circumstances would seem to imply, not only that the work is of comparatively late construction, but also that this was the scene of one of those indiscriminate massacres so common in the history of savage warfare.