342 ANTHROPOLOGY. 



about half an inch in height, and in comparison with the skulls found in 

 the center of the mounds show that they are of a much lower grade. 

 The bones of the late Indians arc in good condition and are easily re- 

 moved. Scattered through the mounds are found shells, broken pottery, 

 and flint. In some cases it is hard to say whether the pottery belongs 

 to the mound-builders or the late Indians, as it is found with both. The 

 shells are evidently fresh water species, and are brought from quite a dis- 

 tance, as they are not found in this vicinity. When found they are white 

 and crumble easily. On account of age the outside has fallen off, thus 

 leaving only the pearl. A large quantity of flint is also scattered through 

 the mounds. The flint is of no particular shape and is broken in 

 small pieces. This is, however, not properly flint, but chert. One ex- 

 cavating finds the earth very compact and solid, and can even with a 

 pick do but little work. Just before reaching the center of the mound 

 the remains of charcoal are found in small quantities. As a general rule 

 the bodies are found in a rude coffin which can hardly be called a sar- 

 cophagus. This coffin is made of rude slabs of limestone, which is found 

 in this neighborhood in abundance. The slabs were at one time fast- 

 ened together by what seems to be a cement. The whole inside of the 

 coffin was plastered with the same kind of cement, thus making it for a 

 time perfectly tight. The body was placed in the sarcophagus with its 

 head pointing toward the east, and with the body were buried a few 

 valuables, such as necklaces, pottery, &c. The skeletons of small 

 animals resembling squirrels and rabbits have also been found buried 

 with the bodies. Urns were placed at the head, evidently containing 

 food of some kind. The necklaces were made of pieces of shell and 

 the claws of wolves. Two bodies have been found in one coffin with 

 their heads pointing east and west. These coffins when found are 

 broken and fallen to pieces, and the bones of the mound-builders are so 

 far decayed and so damp that to remove them is almost an impossibility. 

 They crush when any weight comes in contact with them, but on being 

 exposed to the air they turn white and become hard. The weight of 

 • me of these coffins is about 1,700 pounds, and they cannot therefore be 

 removed. 



The pottery found in these mounds is made of clay and rudely deco- 

 rated, but contains no hieroglyphics. The vessels hold from 2 gills to 

 several gallons. A few pipes have also been found. Two were filled, 

 but with what could not be ascertained. It was evidently not dirt. 

 Quite a Dumber of pieces of wood are found in the mounds, but too far 

 decayed to be removed. From one mound an image was taken weighing 

 li pounds. It was made of a greenish stone resembling granite, nicely 

 polished, and very perfectly made. In one end a hole was bored, through 

 which a thong or string was passed, evidently for the purpose of sus- 

 pending it from the neck. The base was oval-shaped, sloping upward 

 to a figure which, in its general appearance, resembled a lamb, bul what 

 it was intended to represent is difficult to say. The exact nature of the 



