Mounds Nos. 23, 3, and 9 101 



sometimes impossible. Many interments are made in loose soft soil, 

 and, in case of rain, the water collecting in the trench seeks the depres- 

 sions in which the skeletons lie, and is liable to ruin the skeleton and 

 the more fragile objects with it. The skeletons were therefore removed 

 as soon as possible and numbered in the order found. At times when 

 teams and scrapers were being used on Mound 25, later to be described, 

 the shovelers were employed in digging out several small mounds. 



Excavation of Mound No. 3. — In this mound we found an altar 

 whose contents had been removed, probably by Squier and Davis, a 

 copper celt, small knives, and a few other objects. The celt was con- 

 cave on one side and convex on the other, and so finely made that it 

 seems almost impossible that it could have been fashioned by the cold 

 hammering process. The metal shows the peculiar reddish orange color 

 of copper that has been fired. Other copper implements found in the 

 group are very highly finished and show the same color below the 

 incrustation. In most cases the laminar structure of cold beaten copper 

 seems to be absent. These celts, however, may have been associated 

 with charred human bones. 



Excavation of Mound No. 9. — The road had been cut through 

 this mound so that little was left. Squier and Davis' finds in it are 

 interesting, particularly their discoveries of obsidian. In their report 

 (p. 155) they write as follows: — 



"It will be seen that this mound has several peculiar features. The 

 altar A, instead of occupying the centre, is placed considerably toward 

 one side; and a layer of charcoal (C) fills the corresponding opposite 

 side. Over the altar curves a stratum of sand, and over the layer of 

 charcoal still another, as exhibited in the section. This altar was the 

 smallest met with. It was round, not measuring more than 2 feet 

 across the top. It was nevertheless rich in remains. Within it were 

 found : 



(1) Several instruments of obsidian. They were considerably 

 broken up, but have been so much restored as to exhibit pretty nearly 

 their original form. Too large for arrowheads, and too thin and slender 



•for points of spears, they seem to have been designed for cutting 

 purposes. 



(2) Several scrolls tastefully cut from thin sheets of mica. They 

 are perforated with small holes, as if they had been attached as orna- 

 ments to a robe of some description. 



(3) Traces of cloth, small portions of which, though completely 

 carbonized, were found, still retaining the structure of the thread. 



