SACRIFICIAL MOUNDS. 155 



the crescent from horn to horn could not have been less than twenty feet, and its 

 greatest width live. The clay floor of this mound was but a few inches in thick- 

 ness ; a small shaft, c, was sunk three feet below it, but it di sclosed only a mass 

 of coarse ferruginous sand. The earth composing the mound was incredibly com- 

 pact, rendering excavation exceedingly slow and laborious. Two active men were 

 employed more than a week in making the excavation here indicated. It is not 

 absolutely certain that the mound was raised over the simple deposit above 

 mentioned, and it may yet be subjected to a more rigid investigation. 



Although this mound is classed as a mound of sacrifice, it presents some features 

 peculiar to itself. Were we to yield to the temptation to speculation which the 

 presence of the mica crescent holds out, we might conclude that the mound-builders 

 worshipped the moon, and that this mound was dedicated, with unknown rites 

 and ceremonies, to that luminary. It may be remarked that some of the mica 

 sheets were of that peculiar variety known as " hieroglyphic " or " graphic mica." 



Fig. 43 is a section of mound No. 9, in the plan of the great work on the 

 North fork of Paint creek (Plate X). It will be seen that this mound has several 

 peculiar features. The altar, a, instead of occupying the centre, is placed consider- 

 ably towards one side, and a layer of charcoal, c, fills the corresponding opposite 

 side. Over the altar curves a stratum of sand, and over the layer of charcoal 

 still another, as exhibited in the section. This altar was the smallest met with. 

 It was round, not measuring more than two feet across the top. It was never- 

 theless rich in remains. Within it were found — 



1st. Several instruments of obsidian. They were considerably broken up, but 

 have been so much restored, as to exhibit pretty nearly their original form. Too 

 large for arrow-heads, and too thin and slender for points of spears, they seem to 

 have been designed for cutting purposes. 



2d. Several scrolls tastefully cut from thin sheets of mica. They are perforated 

 with small holes, as if they had been attached as ornaments to a robe of some 

 description. 



3d. Traces of cloth ; small portions of which, though completely carbonized, 

 were found, still retaining the structure of the thread. This appeared to have 

 been made of some fine vegetable fibre. It was what is technically termed 

 " doubled and twisted," and was about the size of fine pack-thread. 



4th. A considerable number of ivory or bone needles, or graving-tools, about 

 one tenth of an inch thick. Their original length is not known. Several frag- 

 ments were found two and three inches long. Some have flat cutting points, the 

 points of others were round and sharp ; some were straight, others slightly bent. 



