ORNAMENTS OF METAL. 



209 



below the surface, and was thickly encrusted with a car- 

 bonate. We shall not undertake to ascribe a date to it. 

 Upon one of the altars within a mound in " Mound City," 

 (see page 149,) a quantity of galena was found. It had 

 been exposed, in common with all articles found on the 

 altars, to the action of fire, which had not, however, been 

 sufficiently strong to reduce it, though some pieces seem 

 to have been partially fused. Perhaps it may have been 



prized only for its brilliancy, and finally deposited, with other articles of use or 



ornament, as an offering. 



27 



