552 MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS RELATING TO ANTHROPOLOGY. 



In my examination I discovered a mound about 80 rods south of tlie 

 fort which bore no evidence of ever having been disturbed, and, in com- 

 pany with Mr. J. I. Gibbs, of Vermont, and Thomas Belrose, of Wed- 

 ron. 111., gentlemen interested in archteology, made an examination of its 

 contents. About 2 feet from the surface we discovered charcoal in quite 

 large quantities, and the skull, thigh bones, a fragment of the collar 

 bone, and one joint of the vertebra of what had once been a member 

 of the humau family. Underneath was a number of granitic bowlders 

 of quite large size, placed in a circular form, inside of which was found 

 charcoal. Were I to give an opinion, I should say that the fact of find- 

 ing but a small portion of the skeleton and charcoal in so large quan- 

 tity is conclusive evidence to me of cremation. The skull was very 

 narrow, with a rapidly sloping forehead, extremely heavy under jaw, and 

 large teeth. The skull retained its shape but a few moments, when it 

 crumbled in pieces. It was, when discovered, lying with the face nearly 

 downward, and the head to the east. 



MOUNDS m HENEY AND STAEK COUNTIES, ILLINOIS. 



By T. M. Shallenbekger, of CamJmdge, III. 



The locations of the mounds referred to in the title of this paper are 

 indicated on the two accompanying plats. The first gives an outline 

 of Henry and Stark Counties. The ])oint marked A is 1^ miles south- 

 west of Cambridge, aud is more fully illustrated in plat No. 2. 



At B is a group of fourteen mounds, 1 mile east of Cambridge, still 

 unexplored. 



In Peoria County, at the location marked C, is a large conical mound 

 on the river bottom, which was excavated by the writer, but nothing 

 of value was found, inasmuch as it had been previously opened. No 

 doubt a body had been interred in this mound, since the slab which had 

 lain over it was still there, and the ground at the original surface was 

 burned hard. Two other flat stones close by had been probably taken 

 from the mound, there being no other stones in the mound which could 

 have been used to support the slab before mentioned* There are no 

 other mounds in the vicinity . 



At D is a mound still unexplored. It is situated in West Jersey 

 Township, and is yet 4 feet high, although it has been cultivated for 

 several years. 



The point marked E is a salt marsh, and would in all probability 

 yield relics of prehistoric salt works and mastodon bones. Fragments 

 of pottery have been discovered here already, but the exploration of 

 this spot would be attended with considerable expense. 



