152 A N C I E N T M N U M E N T S . 



single fragment of partially calcined bone was found on the altar. It was the patella 

 of the human skeleton. 



Such were the more important features of this interesting mound. It is evident 

 that the enclosed altar had been often used, and several times remodelled, before 

 it was finally heaped over. Why this was at last done, upon what occasion, and 

 with what strange ceremonies, are questions which will probably forever remain 

 unanswered. 



Fin. 3 : 



Fig. .37 is a section of mound No. 8 in " Mound City." In the number and 

 value of its relics, this mound far exceeds any hitherto explored. It is small in 

 size, and in its structure exhibits nothing remarkable. It had but one sand stratum, 



r -- the edges of which rested on the outer slopes of the altar, 



A , I as shoAVTi in the section. Between this stratum and the 



\ \ •>•"!;■■ V'f I deposit in the basin occurred a layer, a feAV inches thick, 



': ■ ■ i i i of burned loam. The altar itself (Fig. 38) was some- 



; ; 2 i what singular, though ([uite regular in shape. In 



ZZ.Z."...-""-i ! length it was six feet two inches, in width four feet. 



5ft 2.,. •., I ^^ ^j^^ point indicated in the section was a depression 



~ — - of perhaps six inches below the general level of the 



Fio. 38. — PLAN OF ALTAR. Ij^slu. 



The deposit («) in this altar was large. Intermixed with much ashes, were 

 found not far from two hundred pipes, carved in stone, many pearl and shell beads, 

 numerous discs, tubes, etc. of copper, and a number of other ornaments of copper, 

 covered with silver, etc. etc. The pipes were much broken up, — some of them 

 calcined by the heat, which had been sufficiently strong to melt copper, masses of 

 which were found fused together in the centre of the basin. A large number have 

 nevertheless been restored, at the expense of much labor and no small amount of 

 patience. They are mostly composed of a red porphyritic stone, somewhat resem- 

 bling the pipe stone of the Coteau des Prairies, excepting that it is of great hardness 

 and interspersed with small variously colored granules. The fragments of this mate- 

 rial which had been most exposed to the heat were changed to a brilliant i>lack 

 color, resembling Egyptian marble. Nearly all the articles carved in limestone, of 

 which there had been a number, Avere calcined. 



Tlie bowls of most of the pipes are carved in miniature figures of animals, birds, 

 reptiles, etc. All of them are executed with strict fidelity to nature, and with 

 exquisite skill. Not only are the features of the various objects represented liiitli- 

 liiliv.but their peculiarities and habits are in .some degree exhibited. The otter is 

 shown in n characteristic attitude, holding a fish in his inonlli ; the heron also holds 



