514 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [1895. 



the parts were burned prior to the depositing of at least some of the 

 ashes, for the latter extended in an unbroken layer over the holes, 

 except in three or four places where the posts were left projecting 

 somewhat above the surface, as shown by the hollow molds in the 

 body of the mound which had packed around them before their de- 

 cay. These molds were lined with the charcoal from the burned 

 stumps. The trench had been dug through the ashes, except where 

 it extended beyond them on the west side; but their straight margin 

 here as contrasted with the curved outline in other parts, and the 

 abrupt change of direction at the northwest corner, indicate that 

 they had been swept or scraped away on this side before the digging 

 began. 



In a mass of ashes about four inches thick, four to six feet east of 

 the center, were many small fragments of bones of a child, burned 

 until nearly destroyed; nine feet south, three feet east of the center 

 were a few fragments of bones of an adult, similarly burned. Both 

 deposits were lying on the natural surface in the bed of ashes. 



No explanation or interpretation of these facts will be attempted; 

 the reader must form his own conclusions. There may have been 

 some sort of a building of which the posts formed a part; but they 

 do not seem well arranged for such purpose, and no others exist 

 within the excavated space, for every foot of it was carefully ex- 

 amined. The ash-bed, if the fact of a house be admitted, may be 

 due to ordinary domestic life; but this would not account for the 

 cremated human bones. Nor could the latter be so thoroughly 

 charred unless intentionally burned, for, although they were in a 

 mass of ashes, there was no indication of any considerable amount of 

 heat about where they were found. 



To repeat : — The posts were burned off, as is proven by the char- 

 coal found in the holes where they stood, and especially in the casts 

 above the ashes; the latter were deposited, at least in part, after such 

 burning as is shown by their continuity above the holes; and the 

 trench was dug still later, because the ashes came up to its margin 

 on both sides and stopped there, and in two or three places the yellow 

 earth from its bottom lay directly upon them. Further, only a short 

 period'of time was embraced in these stages, for the projecting ends 

 of the posts were still solid enough when the mound was built for 

 the earth deposited over and around them to pack so firmly that it 



