The Fox Farm Site

A Middle Fort Ancient culture Manion Phase (1200 to 1400 CE) archaeological site located 5.8 miles from Washington in Mason County, Kentucky. The site consists of a large village complex on a ridge 2.5 kilometers (1.6 mi) south of the Licking River. The site covers 10-16 hectares and has midden areas up to 80 centimeters (31 in) thick. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 9, 1983.

On the plantation owned by Samuel Henderson, two miles N. of Mayslick, there were, in August 1827, distinct traces of ancient fortifica­tions. The principal fort contained about one acre of ground; the others were not more than half so large. The walls of these entrenchments were quite plain; as were the marks of trenches or subterranean passage leading to Lee’s creek, 300 yards distant-apparently tunneled to provide a supply of water, secure from the danger of a blockading enemy. On about 100 acres of land around, the soil to the depth of one to three feet was mixed with shells, flints, potter’s ware, and bones of various descriptions among the latter several entire human skeletons, besides fragments of others, lying without regularity as if they had fallen in battle and been hastily and carelessly buried. The potter’s ware, in shape somewhat resembling articles now in common use, was made of mussel shells and stones, pulverized and thoroughly mixed; the vessels were carved on the outside, and remarkably strong, notwithstanding; the exposure to the elements for centuries. All is conjecture as to the age of these fortifications-the trees in the several forts and upon the walls bein;t quite as large as in the surrounding forest.

Excerpted from page 548 Vol1 Collins History of Kentucky

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