232 ANCIENT MONUMENTS. 



retain their polish and appear quite sound. They resemble sections cut from the 

 ends of rods or small cylinders, and subsequently more or less rounded upon the 

 edge : some are quite flat, and resemble the bone buttons of commerce ; others 

 are perfectly round. Their diameter varies from one fourth to three fourths of an 

 inch ; the size of the perforation is also variable, usually, however, about one tenth 

 of an inch. Many exhibit circular striae upon their surfaces, identical with those 

 produced by turning in a lathe ; and it is possible they were formed by some such 

 process, instead of being slowly and laboriously worn into shape by rubbing on 

 stones, as was the practice of the modern Indians. These are composed of the solid 

 portion, the columella, of large marine shells. In some of the mounds, the unworked 

 columella has been found, — heavy and compact ; probably that of the strombiis 

 gigas, Avhich shell is common upon the coasts of Florida.* 



In the sacrificial or altar mounds a much greater variety of beads is found than 

 in those devoted to sepulture ; a fact for which we cannot account, unless by sup- 

 posing that the articles most valued for their rarity or beauty were those especially 

 dedicated to their superstitions. It is unfortunate, however, that those placed upon 

 the altars, like everything else thus disposed of, are so much injured by the fire 

 as to preserve but little of their former beauty. 



The bead here represented is composed of shell, 

 and is well wrought Some of this description have 

 been obtained, which are not less than two inches in 

 length by half an inch in diameter. Abundance of 

 Fio. 129. others have been found of similar material but differ- 



ent shape : some are round, but most are oblong ; a few are lens-shaped. 



But the most interesting and remarkable of the whole series are the pearl beads, 

 of which a large number have been found in the altar or sacrificial mounds. By 

 exposure to the heat, they have lost their brilliancy and consequent value as orna- 

 ments ; most of them, indeed, are so much injured that they crumble under the 

 touch. The peculiarities of their form, and their concentric lamella?, joined to the 

 lingering lustre which some retain, place their character beyond dispute. Several 

 hundreds in number, and not far from a quart in quantity, are in our possession, 

 which retain their structure sufficiently well to be strung and handled. The 

 largest of these measures two and a half inches in circumference, or upwards of 

 three fourths of an inch in diameter. They are of all intermediate sizes, down to 

 one fourth of an inch in diameter. Most are irregular in form, or pear-shaped ; yet 

 there are many perfectly round. They have been obtained from separate localities, 

 several miles apart, and from five distinct groups of mounds. Great numbers w^ere 

 so much calcined, that it was found impossible to recover them, and a large number 

 crumbled in pieces after removal from the mounds. It is no exaggeration to say 



* Several thousands of these beads weiv found in the (Ti-avc ci-eck mound. They are mucli thinntT 

 tlian those discovered in the Scioto valley ; otherwise they closely resemhle them. Tiiey were for a long 

 time supposed to be icon/. Their true character was first detented bv Mr. Schoolcraft. See Transactions 

 of .Xnieiican Klhnolo};ical Society, vol. i. p. :^n.'*. 



