834 PAPERS RELATING TO ANTHROPOLOGY 



that there was a group of mounds here, but the land lias been under 

 cultivation for a number of years, aud all traces of other members of 

 the group have disappeared. The one mentioned escaped destruction 

 by being too far out on the point to be easily plowed over. This point 

 has, however, been prepared for cultivation, and this solitary mound 

 will soon "join the innumerable caravan " of mounds that disappears 

 through plowing. The diameter of this structure is about 30 feet and 

 the height 2 feet. An excavation to the bottom was made, but noth- 

 ing except a few pieces of charcoal was found. The material of which 

 it was constructed was scraped up from the surface near, and no ar- 

 rangement, apparently, was followed in its construction. It was built in 

 the woods near the prairie, spring water, and good tillable land. A 

 fine flint hoe was found by the writer near it, besides several arrow- 

 heads. Many stones may be picked up on the bluff, having one smooth 

 surface, and showing the action of fire. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



It is believed that not more than one-third of the mounds of this 

 county have been described in the foregoing papers. All have been 

 given, however, that have been visited by the writer. He has been in- 

 formed that there are many more along the streams in the county, and 

 particularly along South Fork, and Horse, Sugar, and Lick Creeks. 

 On the farm of Benjamin F. Caldwell, in Chatham Township, on Lick 

 Creek, is a group of twenty-five or more. On Cautrall and Richland 

 Creeks, in the north part of the county, there are groups ; also on the 

 east shore of Clear Lake, in Clear Lake Township. In fact, wherever 

 high land is found near good running water a search will, in most in- 

 stances, reveal earthworks of the Mound Builders. From the writer's 

 knowledge of the county he is of the opinion that there are probably 

 one hundred and fifty mounds along the lakes and water-courses within 

 its borders. They are singularly barren of relics of the builders, and, 

 as compared with the prodigious works of this race found near the large 

 streams of the Mississippi Valley, they are small indeed ; still they are 

 interesting as part of a great system which could only be incompletely 

 studied without some knowledge of its poorer and smaller numbers. 

 From the absence of any description it might be supposed that there 

 were no work-shops, ancient camping places, or cemeteries in this county, 

 but, on the contrary, there are many of each. On every spot of high 

 ground, near good water, may be found greater or smaller quantities of 

 flint chips, sometimes in such quantities that bushels of them may be 

 collected. One field is known near the Sangamon River, where wagon- 

 loads of chips may be easily picked up. They are from the peculiar 

 dark stone out of which all the axes of this country were made, aud a 

 spring branch on one side of the field reveals the fact that the stones 

 were taken from its beds and banks. Thousands of pretty smooth ones 

 yet remain there. Most of the work-shops, however, were at ancient 



