ANCIENT MOUNDS IN CLINTON COUNTY, MICHIGAN. 845 



ton. At the bottom of the mound, just below the natural surface of 

 the ground, were the remains of two skeletons, one under the north 

 half of the mound, the other under the south. Both appeared to have 

 been carefully disposed for burial, according to what seems to have been 

 an approved mode — on the right side, the head to the east and slightly 

 elevated, with the thighs and legs flexed so as to bring the heels near 

 the pelvis. The following facts in the history of this mound are pal- 

 pable : Two bodies were laid in shallow graves and a mound partly 

 built above them ; on a level spot on the partially built mound a fire 

 was kindled and a human body burned ; then the bed of ashes and the 

 remains of the burned body were covered up with earth by the com- 

 pletion of the mound. 



Continuing on down the valley, but bearing more towards the west, 

 we come to what was probably the largest mound in this jjart of the 

 country, situated on the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter 

 section 32, on the farm of Edward Paine. It is marked 5 on the 

 map. When my attention was first called to it, not only had excava- 

 tions been made in it and the bones of several skeletons found, but 

 more than half the earth of which it had been composed had been carted 

 away for use elsewhere and the remainder was in process of removal. 

 In order to improve what little opportunity for investigation remained, 

 I volunteered to wield the spade during the completion of the work. 

 Before this mound had been disturbed it was nearly circular in form, 

 being 40 feet broad from east to west and a little less from north to 

 south. According to the best information I can get, and I think it 

 reliable, it was 4^ or 5 feet high. At one time three skulls and a quan- 

 tity of bones were taken out. Mr. Paine says the skulls were found 

 close together in the north part of the mound, and, though no special 

 care was taken to observe the position, he thinks the three skeletons 

 lay in a horizontal position, with the heads to the north. During the 

 removal of the last portion of the mound, at which I assisted, nothing of 

 interest was found except a fire-place. This was situated some distance 

 below the surface, in the southwest part. The remains consisted of char- 

 coal and burnt earth mixed with a considerable proportion of a sooty sub- 

 stance having the appearance of lamp-black. A careful examination of 

 the charcoal, which was in small pieces and very boft, convinced us 

 that the fuel had been largely pine wood. The fire had been kept 

 burning for some time in a hollow or pit in what was then the unfin- 

 ished mound. It had afterwards been covered up by additions made 

 to the mound. No burnt bones or remains of artificial objects were 

 found. Mr. Paine informs me that at a little distance southwest of 

 this large mound were formerly several small ones, all of which have 

 long since disappeared under the operations of the farm. 



About 100 rods distant from the mound, on Mr. Paiue's farm, in a di- 

 rection a little west of north, on the same section, there was formerly 



