SEPULCHRAL MOUNDS. 163 



the bottom of the parallelogram. Within this rude coffin, with its head to the 

 west, was found a human skeleton, or rather the remains of one ; for scarcely a 

 fragment as long as one's finger could be recovered. It was so much decayed that 

 it crumbled to powder under the lightest touch. Of course, no portion of the 

 cranium, of the slightest value for purposes of comparison, was recovered. 



Around the neck of the skeleton, forming a triple row, and retaining then- 

 position as originally strung and deposited with the dead, were several hundred 

 beads, made of the compact portion of marine shells and of the tusks of some 

 animal. Several of these still retain their polish, and bear marks which seem to 

 indicate that they were turned in some machine, instead of being carved or rubbed 

 into shape by hand. A few laminae of mica were also discovered ; which completed 

 the list of articles deposited with this skeleton, of which any traces remained. 

 The feet of the skeleton were about in the centre of the mound ; a drift beyond it 

 disclosed nothing new, nor was a corresponding layer of charcoal found on the 

 opposite side of the mound. It is clear, therefore, that the tumulus was raised 

 over this single skeleton. 



As a general rule, to which this mound furnished one of a very few exceptions, 

 whatever occurs in the mounds, whether they be sepulchral or sacrificial in their 

 purposes, is deposited immediately beneath the apex and on a level with the circum- 

 jacent plain.* The predominance of storms from a certain direction, and various 

 other circumstances, may have contributed to alter the apparent centre of the 

 mound. In the case of a mound of this kind which was opened at Gallipolis on 

 the Ohio river, the skeleton was found in a cist, or chamber, excavated beneath the 

 original surface. This can always be detected by a strongly marked line and the 

 uniform drab color of the earth below it. The superstructure of the mounds is 

 more or less mottled, as the materials entering into their composition are variant 

 in character and color, — a circumstance which has elsewhere been sufficiently 

 explained. 



The charcoal layer is a frequent though by no means an invariable feature in 

 mounds of this class, and would seem to indicate that sacrifices were made for the 

 dead, or funeral rites of some description, in which fire performed a part, cele- 

 brated. This is further confirmed by the fact that fragments of bones and some 

 few stone implements have been discovered in the layer of charcoal. The fire in 

 every case was kept burning for a very little time, as is shown from the lack of 

 ashes, and by the slight traces of its action left on the adjacent earth. That it 

 was suddenly heaped over while glowing, is also certain. 



A smaller mound, standing close by the one above described, was also excavated, 

 but without any satisfactory results. It is probable the investigation was not 

 sufficiently thorough. 



* " In the investigation of barrows, marks of interment are frequently found near the surface ; but 

 investigation must not terminate upon such a discovery. Experience has convinced me that these were 

 subsequent interments, and that the primary deposit was always laid on the floor of the barrow, or wilhin 

 a cist in the nalice soil." — Sir R. C. Hoare on the Barrows and Tumuli of Great Britain. 



