The first feature seen of the Old Stone Fort is "the only...gateway..evident in the walls;" on this end of the enclosure». The mound walls forming the outer perimeter of the enclosure approach each other here and swell into terminal mounds. The "gateway" feature includes the opening between the outer walls, a ditch across the opening, and detached, in-turned, parallel mound walls. When complete, the parallel walls projected over 150 feet within the enclosure. The summer solstice sunrise aligns to within one degree of the orientation of the parallel mounds. The builders of the Old Stone Fort likely used this feature as a setting for ceremonial activities that reflected the changing of seasons and the use of seasonal resources. While we may never know the exact nature of the ceremonial significance, the archaeological evidence indicates that the Old Stone Fort was set apart as a special place and an important gathering place for people along the Duck River for at least 500 years.