650 PROCEEDINOS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.46. 



the plow and the trampling of cattle. The central part of the mound 

 was examined, the excavation having been carried down to the un- 

 disturbed clay. It appears to have been formed of the surface soil, 

 with a few particles of charcoal and a small quantity of ashes inter- 

 mingled. The mass of camp refuse surrounding the mound had 

 evidently accumulated after the construction of the mound, otherwise 

 traces of it would have been encountered in the excavation. Three 

 skeletons were found. The first to be met with was near the present 

 surface of the mound, a few inches below the line of the plow. This 

 was the skeleton of a male, extended, and with the head south. The 

 skull was saved (Cat. No. 278698, U.S.N.M.). This burial pre- 

 sented one very unusual feature; the body had been placed in the 

 grave, or rather on the surface, face down, and as a result the skull 

 was entirely empty, and not a particle of earth had entered it. The 

 body may have been wrapped at the time of burial, and accidentally 

 deposited in this strange position. Just beneath the left shoulder, 

 and extending a few inches beyond, were various small objects which 

 rested upon one another, and which had probably been inclosed in a 

 bag or pouch when they were placed in the grave with the body. 

 These included: (1) A chipped celt about 7 inches in length, thin 

 and well made, having a sharp cutting edge. (2) A pair of arrow- 

 shaft rubbers with deep grooves, made of a very coarse-grained 

 dark-brown sandstone, a material found in the western part of Ste. 

 Genevieve County. (3) A hematite plummet. This had been broken, 

 but even in this condition had been retained and used for some pur- 

 pose. The fractured edges are smooth from contact with a softer 

 material, and across the surface are several grooves which appear to 

 have been worn by cords. (4) Three bone implements, all of which 

 are broken. Two were pointed and one was flat, the latter having 

 a gouge-shaped edge. (5) Small granite pebble. This is triangular 

 in section; the three edges are much worn and bear evidence of having 

 been struck against some hard substance. Other parts of the natural 

 surface are smooth. (6) Three small pieces of gypsum; all are conical 

 in shape, having been worked. The surfaces are greatly decomposed. 

 All are shown in plate 52. 



The skull of this skeleton was saved, and it has been identified by 

 Doctor Hrdlicka as being that of a male, probably between 35 and 40 

 years of age. One may, therefore, regard the different objects, 

 enumerated above, as having been earned in a man's bag, together 

 with substances of a perishable nature, all traces of which have dis- 

 appeared. Of the various pieces the three gypsum specimens are 

 the most unusual; these, as Mr. W. H. Holmes has remarked, "may 

 have been charms or magic-worldng stones from the kit of a medicine 

 man." The granite pebble, showing evidence of much use, may have 

 served in striking a spark to produce fire. The purpose of the 



