MOUNDS IN THE SPOON RIVER VALLEY, ILLINOIS. 3G9 



This group of mounds, distant from Spoon River about one-third of a 

 mile, is on land owned by Samuel S. Seward. On the northwest quar- 

 ter of the northwest quarter section 14, township 11 north, range 4 

 east of fourth principal meridian, is a tumulus, which we shall designate- 

 as the Sam. Parker Mound. This mound is 25 rods south of J he north 

 line and 15 rods east of the west lines of said tract and 80 rods north of 

 Spoon River, which is 125 feet wide at this place. It has a base diam- 

 eter of 90 feet, and an apparent height of three feet above the surround- 

 ing - surface. I opened this mound in company with W. J. Morris. At 

 the surface we found a few small fragments of pottery; at a depth of 2 

 feet some ashes; 1 loot below this a layer of ashes lh inches thick ; below 

 the ashes a compact layer of clay ; below the layer of clay a thin layer of 

 what I supposed to be red ochre; below this was a layer of dark yellow 

 clay about 12 inches thick ; below the clay a layer of the red material about 

 £ to 1 inch in thickness and 18 or 20 inches in diameter. In this red 

 material we found two spear points, one 7 inches in length and one 5 

 inches, very thin, the larger notched at the butt, the smaller not notched; 

 five arrow-points of dark Hint or hornstoue notched at the base or heel, 

 very smooth, as if polished, 3£ inches in length; twenty-two arrow- 

 points of the leaf pattern, of white jasper or chert, from 2i| to of inches 

 in length; one copper needle or awl 3 inches in length, rounded at the 

 point, the remainder of the blade being what the harness-makers term 

 diamond bladed; the spear and light-colored points have every appear- 

 ance of being new. Mr. Julius Johnson, who formerly owned the land 

 on which this mound is situated, found a gorget or breast-plate (now the 

 property of the writer) inches in length, 2 inches in width in the mid- 

 dle, and 1J inches wide at each end, with two small holes through it 

 about 2 inches from each end, and f inch in thickness, and composed 

 of a material resembling greenstone. The pottery found is of superior 

 quality. Near the south line of section 11, township and range afore- 

 said, is a low mound on land owned by a Mr. Mackey. This we 

 thoroughly examined to the depth of the original surface soil, and 

 found a small fragment of a stone implement, highly polished on one 

 side, a small piece of charcoal, and some ashes. On section 10 of this 

 township, at the foot of a high bluff facing the south, occurs what is 

 designated by archaeologists as a kitchen-midden. On the south side 

 of the tumulus is a bayou; this was the former channel of a creek, 

 now some 40 rods to the east. In the material composing this tumulus 

 we found arrow-points; one or two skinning- stones; fragments of pot- 

 tery, with some attempts at ornamentation. One piece had the appear- 

 ance of having been marked below the rim when in a plastic state 

 with an implement similar to the point of a tliree-cornered tile; the 

 tool with which the marking was done was moved in an upward direc- 

 tion. No evidence of glazing appeared on any of the fragments. One 

 small implement of j-asper, about 2j inches in length byf inch in thick- 

 ness, was discovered, supposed to be a drill, and a disk of syenite If 

 S. Mis. 54 24 



