134 Cincinrhati Society of JSFatural Histoi'y. 



" The cross-like form of this ornament may give rise to the question 

 of its derivation; and had an}^ article of European make, such as 

 glass beads, brass buttons, etc., so common in Indian graves, subse- 

 quent to contact with whites, been found in any one of the hundreds 

 of graves I opened in Tennessee, I should consider the form of this 

 ornament the result of contact with the early missionaries; but, from 

 the total absence of articles denoting such contact, I think it must 

 be placed in the same categor}^ with the 'tablet of the cross' at 

 Palenque, and be regarded as an ornament made in it^ present form, 

 simply because it is an easy design to execute, and one of natural 

 conception." 



On "Wednesda}^, 29th, the skeleton of a child about four years of age 

 was found, lying horizontal!}", head north, at a depth of twenty- one 

 inches. A broken vessel lay at the right side of the cranium. 



On October 31st, two skeletons were uncovered. The first was that 

 of a child about four years of age, and in the same position as that 

 found on the 29th, depth 3 feet; the other skeleton was an adult male, 

 head south, length 5 feet 8 inches, depth 16 inches. A vessel also 

 accompanied these remains. 



Several ash pits were explored during the following week, but no 

 skeletons were found until November 7th, ivhen that of an adult male 

 was exhumed; position horizontal, head east, length 5 feet 6 inches, 

 depth 15 inches. An ordinary vessel was found on the right side of 

 the head. 



The excavations were now along the edge of the ravine; the depth 

 at which man 3^ of the skeletons were found was but a few inches, and 

 the depth of leaf-mold over the ash pits had diminished to 10 and 12 

 inches. This is accounted for b}^ the denudation of the surface of 

 the slope by the elements, the soil being carried into the ravine. It is 

 very evident that at the date of these burials, this ravine was much 

 less extensive than at present, and has since extended into the plateau 

 some 250 feet. This will also account for the numerous scattered hu- 

 man remains found in the ravine, which attracted the attention of 

 collectors for several 3^ears previous to the discover}" of this cemetery". 



It is also noticeable that the depth of the ash pits below the first 

 la3^er of leaf-mold do not vary material]3^ from those in other portions 

 of the plateau. 



On November 18th, a group of twelve skeletons and three ash pits 

 were found near the edge of the ravine. The first was a child about 

 four 3'ears of age, 13'^ing horizontall}", head east, face upward, at a 

 depth of onl}^ six inches below the surface. Two feet northeast of the 



