81 



about three feet long was found, as if the remains of a 

 stake or post. Seven feet above this ash bed another fire 

 had been made, evidently extending over the top of the 

 mound when at that height. This upper bed of ashes 

 contained burnt corn cobs, burnt animal bones and charred 

 fragments of matting. From this level to the surface 

 nothing of importance was noted, the mound having prob- 

 ably been completed. after the extensive tire in the centre. 

 Thorough examinations of many of the smaller mounds 

 were made, and it was found that in most of them burials 

 had taken place just on the outer edge of the inner de- 



FIG. 8. 



pression, in such a manner as to show that these burials 

 were made within the house. In every case it was found 

 that only children had been thus buried. Over many of 

 these graves fires had been made, and the refuse matter 

 in the raised circles consisted of bones of deer, birds and 

 other animals used as food, fragments of pottery and va- 

 rious domestic implements, just such as would naturally 

 be gathered about a house. In the children's graves were 

 found many articles of pottery, shell and bone, beads, 

 pearls, etc. The discovery of several shells peculiar to 

 the Gulf coast, indicates that the inhabitants of this an- 



