Mounds Nos. 24 and 23 97 



inches from the surface. The lower jaw and right radius of one of these 

 (No. 195) were missing. Two other cremated skeletons were found in 

 this mound, likewise some small shells and mica ornaments. 



Excavation of Mound No. 23 (Plate XLVI). — This, except for 

 No. 25, was the largest mound opened. It was reduced to within four 

 or five feet of the base line with teams and scrapers. It was originally 

 150 feet long and from 10 to 12 feet high. Plate XLV shows the mound 

 just before we began exploration. The excavation of this mound 

 occupied the expedition from September 23 to October 10, while work 

 upon it was continued until the 20th of October. 



On the 23rd of September, seven skeletons were discovered, as 

 follows : 



No. 184. Head west, no ornaments. Bones could not be saved. 



No. 185 (Cat. No. 40170). Female, head S. S. E. 



No. 186. Boy. Bones crushed by weight of earth. With this 

 skeleton were five stone celts, an arrowhead, cut jaws of the fox and 

 lynx, and some bone points. 



No. 187. Old man, head southeast. No ornaments; one bone awl. 



No. 188 (Cat. No. 40171). Brachycephalic head. Head E. N. E., 

 left humerus perforated. 



No. 189 (Cat. No. 40166). Head S. E. 



No. 190 (Cat. No. 40172). Head S. E. 



September 24. As the excavation proceeded downward, one noticed 

 the difference in color between the different layers of earth in the 

 mound, and these patches of different-colored earth suggest that it had 

 been dumped in small quantities. Ashes are noticeable at the west 

 end of the mound. Some skeletons were found in gravel. This gravel 

 predominated in quantity at the east and especially toward the south 

 side. 



September 25. Large holes or pits were discovered in the north side 

 of the west end of the mound. Another was found near the centre of 

 the east end. Whether these are due to previous excavation, we are 

 unable to say; but they do not appear to have been made by Squier 

 and Davis. During the time between September 25 and October 1, a 

 number of finds were made. Two altars, shown in Plate XLVI, were 

 discovered 10 feet below the surface. One measured 27 by 22 inches, 

 being \}4 inches deep. These altars contained nothing, which is unusual 

 in a mound so large. 



