46 ANTIQUITIES IN TENNESSEE. 



in the centre of the circles thus formed is an inner black circular figure. This 

 vase had evidently been subjected to the action of fire; and in its general appear- 

 ance and finish compares fiivorably with the best Mexican and Peruvian vases that 

 have come under my observation. 



Under tlie head of the male skeleton I found a carefully fashioned and highly 

 polished stone hatchet, with a double edge, and with the entire handle and ring 

 carved out of a compact chloritic stone. On each side of the top of the handle 

 are three grooves. A reduced drawing of this warlike weapon, which is one of 

 the most beautiful and perfect stone implements ever exhumed from the aboriginal 

 remains within the limits of the United States, and which appears to constitute a 

 special type, diftering from both American and European stone implements, is 

 represented in Fig. 11. Length 13.5 inches; blade between the edges 6.1 inches; 

 greatest width of the blade 2.5 inches; greatest width of the handle 2 inches; 

 least width of the handle 1.5 inches. 



Pig. 11. 



Double-LeacleJ stone liatchet or battle axe, formed of green chloritic stone, exhumed from a mound on the 

 bank of the Cumberland Eiver, opposite Nashville. 



A row of graves extended around the inner circle, which we have described as 

 radiating from the altar. The stone coflftns of this outer circle lay at right angles 

 to those of the inner circle, and rested as it were at the feet of the more highly 

 honored dead. In the outer graves no ornaments were found, and only a few 

 arrow-heads and fragments of shells and pottery. The arrow-heads are very 

 small, and most carefully fashioned with very sharp points. Fig 12 represents 

 one of these flint arrow-heads. 



Fis. 12. 



Arrow-head from a stone grave. One-half the natural size. 



The crania from this outer circle are, as a general rule, larger and more com- 

 pressed than those of the inner circle. The flattening of the occiput varies also 

 within very wide limits. These diff"erences were accurately indicated by tlie 

 numerous photographs and outline drawings transmitted to the Smithsonian In- 

 stitution in connection with the account of these explorations. 



In the outer circle of this mound I exhumed the largest cranium that I was 

 able to obtain in a perfect state from the stone graves; the internal capacity being 

 103 cubic inches ; horizontal periphery 20.8 inches ; intermastoid arch 16.8 inches; 



