NO. 2042. ARGHEOLOOICAL INVESTIOATIONS—BUSHNELL. 655 



tliese graves. It is therefore more than probable, and, in fact, is 

 generally understood by the old settlers of this section, who derived 

 the information from their parents, that these are the graves of the 

 Kaskaskia and other Indians who resided here when this part of 

 Illinois began to be settled by the whites." ^ In a direct Ime Prairie 

 du Kocher is less than 15 miles distant from the mouth of the Saline. 



During the work in the vicinity of Kimmswick and other parts of 

 Jefferson County some years ago, 16 distinct groups of stone graves 

 were examined. A most interesting group was discovered imme- 

 diately north of and adjoining the important village site near the 

 spring, about H miles west of Kimmswick. This group included 22 

 graves, of which number, 8 contained extended skeletons. Ten 

 graves contained from 1 to 3 skulls each, together with various bones. 

 One contained 4 radii and 4 ulnae and also 8 finely worked bone 

 implements and a small perforated disk of wood, discolored by and 

 showing traces of a thin sheet of copper. A few bones were found in 

 another grave, and in the remaining two all traces of the burial had 

 disappeared. Six graves of this group, three of which contained 

 small extended skeletons, were lined with fragments of large earthen- 

 ware vessels, smooth on both surfaces, and which, when entire, must 

 have measured from 20 to 30 or more inches in diameter. Nothing 

 was met with to suggest the possibility of one fonn of burial being 

 older than the other; all were probably of approximately the same 

 age, differing only by a few years. Several burials found here were 

 similar to those discovered near the mouth of the Saline. Many 

 graves were examined in the valley of Big River, in the vicinity of 

 Morse Mill. In many cases all traces of the burials had disappeared, 

 but in every grave where bones were met with the skeletons had been 

 articulated at the tune of interment. All graves were stone lined, 

 and few groups consisted of more than 10 or 12. These small groups 

 evidently indicate the sites of several wigwams, as signs of an en- 

 campment were often discernible. Nothing was met with in any 

 graves of the small gi'oups indicating the age of the burials. 



In grave IV, below the mouth of the Saline, 4 small earthen bowls 

 were encountered. All were in a fragmentary, disintegrated condi- 

 tion, and unfortunately could not be removed. Two pieces were 

 small bowls, about 4 inches in diameter and a little less in depth. 

 They were very thin and fragile, and were composed solely of clay, 

 neither sand nor crushed shell having been used as an admixture. 

 They differed materially from all vessels constnicted for practical 

 purposes. Several similar specimens were recovered from the graves 

 near Morse Mill, and 10 or more were found associated with the 



1 Thomas, Cyrus, Report on the Mound Explorations of the Bureau of Ethnology, in the Twelfth Annual 

 Report, p. 136. 



