344 ANTHROPOLOGY. 



of thick gravel, and under this simply a layer of sand, a characteristic 

 of the ground in that vicinity. 



These mounds are of a much poorer quality than those- farther south. 

 On the largest mound visited, near the center, was found a stump of a 

 tree 20 inches in diameter, hut too far decayed to note accurately the 

 annular rings (125 were counted). Near the edge of the mound stands 

 a tree 11 inches in diameter. 



Out of these eight mounds only five skeletons were taken. Two or 

 three whole arrow-heads were found, also a large quantity of broken 

 1 tottery. 



The animal mounds represent many figures, which were probably but 

 the conceptions of the builders. In many cases it is hard to tell what 

 they represent, on account of the brush and trees which have grown over 

 them. On the sloping shores of Lake Mendota are many of these mounds, 

 and running parallel to the lake are ridges about 2G0 feet long, forming- 

 rude steps. 



There is one mound, having the shape of a bear, 60 feet in length and 

 about 3 feet high. Also, a snake mound, with four curves, is noticeable. 

 At the head of the mound two stones, weighing about 500 pounds each, 

 indicate the eyes. 



Mounds made to represent bears, snakes, alligators, deer, &c, are very 

 numerous. 



NOTES OX SOME OF TIIE PRINCIPAL MOUNDS IN THE DES MOINES VALLEY. 



By Samuel B. Evans, of Ottumwa, Iowa. 



The opinion held by some writers that successive peoples are attracted 

 to the same localities and build towns on the ruins of those of their pre- 

 decessors holds good in the Des Moines Valley. The writer has passed 

 almost a quarter of a century in this region, which he has partially ex- 

 plored in the search of relics of the unknown race. Who the mound- 

 builders were, or whence they came, is the problem we wish to solve; 

 and in the narration of simple facts by observers at different points 

 there may be collected a mass of testimony which may lead to clearing 

 u]> the mystery. It has been my privilege to examine rather critically 

 someof the mounds in the vicinity of Ottumwa, Iowa, the exact locations 

 of which are shown in the diagram on the next page. 



In the group known as the Sugar Creek mounds are two which 1 have 

 personally examined. My mode of examination was to dig a trench 2 

 feel in width, beginning at the outer limit of the base, and thence to the 

 center, digging down to the original soil. These mounds measured 50 

 feel in diameter and 150 feet in circumference, and are about :>\ feet in 

 height. In Mound No. 1 of the Sugar Creek group I found nothing but 

 bits of charcoal and decomposed ashes. This mound is on the highest 

 poinl in the vicinity, and may be termed for convenience a mound for 



