MOUNDS OF THE UNITED STATES BUSHNELL 677 



numerous thcan eastward from that point. The objects recovered 

 from these moimds are very crude, few in number, and do not aid 

 in the identification of the builders of the graves. It is believed they 

 were con.structed by a tribe, or possibly by several related tribes, while 

 they were migrating through the valley, making long stops on the 

 way, as was the usual custom of many tribes when moving from one 

 section of the country to another, but whether they were going from 

 east to west or west to east has not been determined. 



Small, low, spreading mounds exist in vast numbers west of the 

 Mississij^pi and south of the Missouri. They occur in extensive 

 groups, a hundred or more often being found within a limited area. 

 As an indication of their great number it will suffice to say that 860 

 were once counted within a space of less than 10 square miles in 

 Dallas County, Mo., forming several large groups Avith smaller 

 clusters between. They are encountered as far south as the coast 

 of the Gulf of Mexico, through Louisiana and Texas, and to add 

 to the mystery they are not found east of the Mississippi. All were 

 undoubtedly raised by man, or rather resulted from man's work. 

 Some. may have been places of burial, similar to the innumerable 

 small mounds standing in the northern section of the Mississippi 

 Valley, although they are more ancient and all traces of the human 

 remains have disappeared from them. Others are evidently the re- 

 mains of earth-covered habitations which stood generations ago ; the 

 frame, having fallen through decay, allowed the earth covering to 

 settle and form a low, spreading mound, slightly elevated above the 

 surrounding surface. Considering the great number of these small 

 mounds, their wide distribution, and the usual lack of implements 

 or bits of native pottery in the vicinity of the groups, their origin 

 remains one of the unsolved mysteries in connection with the 

 activities of the native tribes of this part of North America. 



Within the past half century large earth-covered lodges were oc- 

 cupied by the Pawnee, Mandan, and other tribes in the upper Mis- 

 souri Valley. Farther down the valley were ruined villages of the 

 same people, many of which had been inhabited during the eighteenth 

 century. (PL 10.) All were composed of similar structures, some 

 being more than 40 feet in diameter, flattened, dome shaped, made 

 of a heavy frame covered with thatch and a mass of earth and sod. 

 In some instances the floor space within the circular wall had been 

 excavated several feet; in others only a slight excavation, if any, 

 had been made. The frames decayed and fell away, and where the 

 excavated space was not sufficient to hold the earth and sod which 

 had served to cover the lodge a low mound resulted, quite similar in 

 appearance to many found south of the ISIissouri. 



24034—29 44 



