ABOEIGINAL RUINS IN TENNESSEE. 411 



center, down to the solid eartb, but found notliinj;-, except nov/ and then 

 a broken ilinfc or fragment of pottery. We then dug in the sides, per- 

 mitting tbe eartli to tall into the shaft, until we had a large excavation, 

 in the shape represented on the diagram, but stiil found nothing. We 

 next made excavations twelve feet deep, at various points, but discovered 

 nothing in any of them, except in one. Here, within a few inches 

 of the surface, we came upon broken fragments of brick, or burned 

 earth, exhibiting some kind of molded work. They were in consider- 

 able quantities, and looked as if they might originally have been hollow 

 columns. If solid columns, the fragments would certainly have been 

 larger; the specimens sent are of average size. Immediately under 

 these, about one foot below the sur&ce, was what might be styled a tile 

 lioor, perfectly level and smooth. We removed the earth, and found it 

 to be somewhat crescent-shaped, covering a space of forty-four feet one 

 way, and sixteen the other. How much larger it had been we could 

 not learn, for roots had grown into it and broken it uj). The tiling, if 

 such it can be called, was about an inch thick, and seemed to have 

 been made hj spreading tempered clay smoothly upon a leveled space 

 of earth and then hardening by means of fire built on top of it. There 

 were no seams to indicate that it had been made otherwise and laid 

 down in sections. Nothing else was found, except some charcoal around 

 the edges. 



Like F, this large central mound was composed of tough clay and gravel, 

 making it very hard to dig. Within a short distance were three great 

 depressions, from which the earth of which it v.as formed had evidently 

 been taken. 



Mound K : A low mound, eighty yards in diameter at the base. We 

 opened it in vinious places, as shown in the drawing. Six feet in the 

 center bronght us to the bottom, eighteen inches of which was com- 

 l)osed of a soft, black earth, in which were found bones, deer horns, 

 shells, fragments of pottery, &c. In this deposit we also found two 

 stone implements, probably used for pounding corn, opening shell-fish, 

 or something of the kirid. 



Mound L is similar to K in every respect. In addition to the usual 

 melange of black earth, bones, shells, &c., -we found one ])ounder and 

 two pieces of red stone, which, I suppose, had been used for painting. 

 We also found one flint knife. Persons not familiar with such relics 

 might mistake these knives for arrow or spear heads, from which they 

 diifer in not having notches worked in the large end for the purpose of 

 attaching them to a shaft. 



Mound j\I: Thirty yards across at base, and five feet high. At two 

 feet down Ave came upon a fossil shell and a beautifally-linished little 

 stone; I call it a paint mortar. There was no sign of bones, which 

 leads to the supposition that these articles were simply buried there for 

 safe-keeping. At four feet down we found a large and splendid stone 

 implement. It was lying near one side of the mound, and appeared to 



