An interpretive sign along a park trail reads:
“MIDDLE FORT DITCH CONSTRUCTION”
“Archaeologists cite three reasons why “Fort” Ancient is not a fortification. Fist there is no evidence that a large number of people lived inside the earthworks, definite not the thousands needed to defend such a large area. Second, there are 67 openings in the earthen walls with no know way to close them. Finally the ditch is on the inside of the walls not the outside where it might be an effective defense.”
“The purpose of the interior ditch is unknown. The ditch probably provided soil for the construction of the earth walls and may be only bore pits. It may have served as a water collection arrears. Early records indicate that a spring once fed water into the ditch. It has been suggested that water had an important symbolic relationship with American Indian religion.”
