MOUNDS IN IOWA. 581 



The human remains had all been cremated before being placed in the 

 mound. 



The accompanying- diagram (Fig. 3) will illustrate this description, as 

 well as show the general method of interment practiced here by these 

 ancient people. 



No. 15, a mound 10 feet from Ko. 14, circular, 30 feet in diameter and 

 1^ feet in height. A partial exploration of this mound failed to show 

 any indications of fire or to yield relics of any kind. 



No. 16, 16 feet from No. 15, is ; lOther mound of the same character. 

 A partial exploration of this mound revealed the presence of human 

 leg and arm bones, 17 inches below the surface of the mound, ap- 

 parently thrown in promiscuously. No trace of fire or other relics 

 than those mentioned were found. 



No. 17, a mound 3 feet from No. 16, circular, 1^ feet in height, and 

 25 feet in diameter. An oak stump 8 or 10 inches in diameter still 

 occupied a position on the edge of this mound. Degraded and unex- 

 plored. 



No. 18, a mound 20 feet from No. 17, circular, 42 feet in diameter and 

 2^ feet in height. A trench 2 feet wide and 2^ feet deep was made 

 through the center of this mound from east to west, but no trace of fire 

 or relics of any kind was found. The material of the mound was homo- 

 geneous throughout. Degraded by cultivation. 



No. 19, a mound 20 feet distant from No. 18, circular, 42 feet in diam- 

 eter and 2| feet in height. Occupying the surface of the mound was 

 some hazel brush, and growing on the edge was a burr-oak tree 1 foot in 

 diameter. Near the center of the mound three large oaks had recently 

 been grubbed up; on the stump of one was counted sixty three annual 

 rings. In the center of this mound an excavation 8 feet square and 2^ 

 feet deep was made. Lying at length, on a level with the ground around 

 the mound, a skeleton of an adult person was found. This skeleton 

 lay with the head 11 degrees south of east. The body had been placed 

 on its back, head lying on its left side, mouth open about 1 inch, left 

 shoulder drawn up and chin resting on the clavicle, and arms at the side. 

 The cranium was largo and well formed, the jaws and teeth strong and 

 rather large, and judging from the worn condition of the crowns of the 

 teeth, it was thatof a person somewhat advanced in years. This skeleton 

 indicated a person over 6 feet in height. As this skeleton, together with 

 others, was stolen soon after being exhumed, it has made it impossible 

 to give cranial measurements here as was desired. All the bones were 

 in a poor state of preservation. No trace of fire was observed in the 

 mound, or relics of any description found with the bones. The earth 

 around and for IJ feet above the body had been tamped very hard. 



No. 20, 21 feet from No. 19, was another mound of the same form and 

 dimensions, and covered with a growth of hazel brush, the young oaks 

 and poplars which but a few years ago occupied it having been cut 

 down and removed. An exploration of this mound was made with the 



