364 TRANS. ST. LOUIS ACAD. SCIENCE. 



various stages of decomposition in which they were found showed 

 that a long time must have intervened between the first and last 

 interments. 



Fig. 32 shows the normal type, with vertical occiput flattened 

 on the right side ; the rest of the skull symmetrical, well-rounded, 

 and high forehead. Fig. 33 shows this artificial flattening to a 

 remarkable degree, and strongly resembles the Peruvian skulls 

 from the Temple of the Sun.* I observed, however, two marked 

 exceptions. In these instances the skulls differed in almost every 

 important particular. Only a fragment of one could be preserved, 

 as they crumbled to dust upon the first exposure to the air. No 

 trace of artificial flattening could be observed. Its longitudinal 

 diameter, as compared with the others, was very great (see fig. 34). 

 The forehead is lower and more retreating than any I have seen 

 from the mounds or caves, while the superciliary ridges are largely 

 developed, altogether suggesting a mental organization but little 

 above the ape. It bears a closer resemblance to the pictures of 

 the Neanderthal skull than any which have come under my obser- 

 vation. When nry eyes first rested upon this remarkable skull, I 

 had no doubt that it was an intrusive burial by the Indians, such 

 as I had frequently seen near the surface of other mounds which 

 were unmistakably such, and my suspicion was strengthened by 

 the fact that it was located upon the very outer edge of the mound ; 

 but, upon careful examination of its position, I found that it was 

 deposited in the usual manner with the head towards the centre, 

 with the drinking vessels in the usual position, also, beside the 

 head, and corresponding in all particulars of its interment with 

 the rest. From all these circumstances it was impossible to 

 escape the conviction, that, to whatever distinctive race or tribe 

 the individual may have belonged, he was buried by those who 

 erected the mound, and in the same faith. 



CHRONOLOGY. 



While all generalizations upon the facts here presented, with a 

 view to ascertain the length of time during which these works 

 were occupied, or the period of their abandonment, may seem 

 premature and idle, still there are two considerations suggested 

 thereby which it is hoped may not be entirely out of place or 

 valueless. 



* Sec Morton's Crania Americana, Plates B and C. 



