510 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1895. 



had lined it, or by the difference in color and consistency of the 

 earth on either side. When fully exposed, by removal of the top 

 soil around it, it formed an irregular ellipse with a narrow prolonga- 

 tion toward the east. Its entire length was 27 feet on a line almost 

 exactly east and west; its maximum breadth nineteen feet. On the 

 east, north, and south sides, the dip was gradual as in the first grave; 

 but on the west side it was abrupt the entire depth. From near the 

 top of the red gravel, except at the east end where a more gradual 

 slope was left to facilitate the passage of the aboriginal undertakers, 

 the walls were carried directly downward four feet into the gray 

 sand, forming a pit, measuring on the bottom, sixteen feet from east 

 to west, ten feet from north to south, and seven feet deep from the 

 surface. In this, midway between the sides but a little nearer the 

 western end, lay a skeleton about six feet long, extended on the 

 back, head east, arms by the sides, left hand under the hip. The 

 skull was broken by pressure of the earth. About the neck were a 

 few disk beads, and just above the knees a few Marginellas, all very 

 soft. On each forearm were three copper bracelets, one large and 

 two small. One of the larger was so corroded as to fall in two; it 

 was not made of a solid rod, as is usual, but of sheet copper rolled 

 into a cylinder and bent to the desired form. [See note.] 



There was no trace of cloth or skins, except adherent to the 

 bracelets, unless the soft, loose, black earth about the bones was due 

 to decay of such material. A thin seam of bark above the body 

 reached a little to each side, but none had been placed beneath it. 

 The wood found about the outer part of the excavation did not 

 extend down the sides into it ; small disconnected patches were seen 

 at a few places in the earth filling the grave, but if it had ever been 

 continuous at any level no evidence of such fact now remained. 



A longitudinal section is given in Fig. 3, and cross sections, at 

 intervals of five feet, in Figs. 4-8. 



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Fig. 3. Horizontal section of large grave in Volgamore Mound. 



