582 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. [2 J 



By raaklug thorough examination as the work progresses, and throwing 

 the dirt behind in the trenches tlie mound can readily be restored to its 

 original form, which should in all cases be done. Careful notice should 

 be taken of the character and thickness of the diflferent strata and a 

 vertical section of the mound drawn, from actual observation, showing 

 the stratification. Notes should be made, on the sjiot, of every article 

 found in the mound, the depth at which each is found and its postiion 

 in relation to the others. If skeletons are found their position should 

 be noted, whether lying down or sitting up, stretched out or folded up, 

 and whether on the face, side, or back. Careful examination should be 

 made to see if there is anything to indicate whether the flesh had been 

 removed before burial or not. The skulls and tibiae should be preserved 

 where this is possible, and also all bones bearing marks of disease or 

 of injury during life, or presenting any marked peculiarity. 



All animal bones as well as any vestiges of art should be carefully 

 removed and preserved. If any pottery is found the explorer should be 

 particular to save all the pieces, even to the smallest, as it may be pos- 

 sible to restore the vessels. 



If the mound is of considerable height the trenches and pits should 

 be sloped outwards at the sides, to prevent caving. If it is too high for 

 trenching and does not exceed 25 feet, the easiest and best method of 

 exploring it is to sink a circular pit in the center to the depth of about 

 8 feet, then run a trench from this to the outside of the mound, then 

 carry the pit down 8 feet farther, and next dig an offset or step in the 

 trench about 8 feet down. These steps will afford means of throwing 

 out the dirt without resorting to the use of a windlass and bucket. 

 By making the pit about 12 feet in diameter at the top and sloping it 

 inward, a curb will be unnecessary; still it is well to have a few cross- 

 braces at the weakest points. 



Where beds of burnt clay are found in mounds they should be care- 

 fully traced before being broken up, and their exact form and size ascer- 

 tained, and if ashes or charcoals are immediately above or below them, 

 this fact should be noted. In examining inclosures trenches should be 

 cut across them at several points in order to ascertain whether there are 

 any indications of a palisade, and if there is a layer of clay, burnt or 

 unburnt, or of ashes or charcoal, this fact should be mentioned. 



Cross-sections, especially where there are ditches in connection with 

 inclosures, aid very greatly in conveying a correct idea of the works. 



When examining the small circular depressions known as "house 

 sites," a pit should be sunk in the center 2 or 3 feet below the original 

 surfiico, as children were sometimes buried in such places. 



In explorations of ordinary burial mounds in the northern sections, 

 care should be taken to distinguish between intrusive and primary 

 burials. When no burial mound is found in a group, or when there is 

 one which seems to be inadequate to the probable population, careful 

 search should be made in the vicinity for a cemetery. The character 



