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•ANTIQUITIES IN TENNESSEE. 



The cranium, which from the delicacy of tlie bones, and especially of the jaws, 

 was judged to be that of a female, was in a remarkable state of preservation. The 

 skeleton was dry, and seemed to be unimpaired as far as the general shape and 

 outlines of the bones are concerned ; but these were very light, and crumbled 

 readily when compressed, thus indicating the removal of the animal matter to a 

 great extent. I varnished the skull immediately after lifting it out of the sar- 

 cophagus, and thus preserved it entire, with the exception of a small portion of the 

 occipital bone, in the left side of the back of the head, where the skull rested 

 upon the earth. 



This cranium is one of the most perfect in its shape, and striking in its outline, 

 amongst the skulls which I exhumed and critically examined, measured, and figured, 

 of this aboriginal race. The oval of the skull is unusually perfect, the nose is 

 high and arched, and the teeth are perfect, 16 above and 16 below, and although 

 considerably worn by use and age, only one small cavity exists in one of the ante- 

 rior molars, on the right side of the superior maxilla. Tlie occiput is less flattened 

 than in many other crania of' this race; nevertheless, this characteristic is readily 

 observed ; and when the skull is viewed anteriorly or posteriorly, it is evident that 

 the pressure was exerted more upon the left side than upon the right. The 

 measurements of this specimen are as follows: f;\cial angle 76°.5; internal capa- 

 city 75 cubic inches; longitudinal diameter 6.3 inches; parietal diameter 5.4 



inches; frontal diameter 4.3 inches; vertical diam- 

 ■^'s-9' eter 5.5 inches; intcrmastoid arch 15 inclies ; 



intcrmastoid line 5 inches ; occipito-frontal arch 

 13.5 inches; horizontal periphery 19 inches; 

 length of head and face 7.5 inches ; zygomatic 

 diameter 5.1 inches. 



In the grave of a child, near the right side of 

 the stone grave, the description of which has just 

 been given in detail, and at the foot of another 

 grave which contained a skeleton seven feet in 

 length, and apparently of a male of great age, as 

 manifested by the loss of the teeth, and the absorp- 

 tion of the alveoli, a small black image was 

 exhumed. 



The features of this image, with its straight 

 retreating forehead and prominent nose, resemble 

 those of the Aztec or ancient Mexican sculptures. 

 The figure is kneeling, with the hands clasped 

 across the breast, in the attihide of prayer. This 

 object is formed of a mixture of black clay and 

 pounded shells, and is exceedingly hard, with a 

 smooth polished surface. It might with pro- 

 priety be called a vase, as it is hollow, with the 

 mouth or opening in the back of the head, and not at the summit as is usual 

 with the vases of the Egyptians and Romans. 



Image composed of dark colored clay 

 and crushed river shells, from the stone 

 grave of a child, on the summit ot .a burial 

 and "Sacrificial" mound; on the banks 

 of Cumberland River, opposite Nashville, 

 Tennessee. Oue-fourtb the natural size. 



