48 



ANTIQUITIES IN TENNESSEE. 



inches; intornal capacity, 92 cubic inches; frontal diameter, 4.4 inches; vertical 

 diameter, 6 inches; intermastoid arch, 16.5 inches; intermastoid line, 5.4 inches; 

 occipito-frontal arch, 13.8 inches; horizontal periphery, 19.8 inches. 



Fig. 13. 



Fig. 14. 



Figs. 13 and 14, outlines of a cranium, from a stone grave in a mound ou the banlvs of the Cumberland Kiver, 



opiiosite Nashville. 



In the general outline, this cranium bears a marked resemblance to that of the 

 Natchez, figured and described by Dr. Morton in his " Crania Americana," pp. 160- 

 161, Plates XX and XXI. The effects of artificial compression were also visible 

 in another well preserved cranium from a stone grave in the same mound, which 

 afforded the following measurements: facial angle, 75°; internal capacity, 78 cubic 

 inches; longitudinal diameter, 6.1 inches; parietal diameter, 5.7 inches; frontal 

 diameter, 4.3 inches; vertical diameter, 5.6 inches; intermastoid arch, 15 inches; 

 intermastoid line, 5.2 inches; occipito-frontal arch, 13 inches; horizontal periph- 

 ery, 19 inches; diameter of head and face, 7.3 inches; zygomatic diameter, 5.3 

 inches. 



Graves also extend to the river's edge, many of which are uncovered from time 

 to time by the crumbling of the sandy bank; the remains consisting of shells, 

 bones, pottery, and implements of various kinds, precipitated along the shores 

 of the river below. 



From the grave of a child, near the brink of the river, I 

 took a small shell ornament, carved in the shape of a human 

 countenance (Fig. 15). 



Tlie cranium of this child was removed with great difficulty 

 from its stone coffin. This skull exhibits, in a marked 

 manner, the effects of compression on the soft bones of 

 the infantile cranium. The occiput is greatly flattened, 

 and the bones yielding laterally to the growing brain, the 

 parietal diameter actually varies but little from the longi- 

 tudinal. The effects of compression on this cranium will be 

 rendered evident bv the following measurements: longitudinal 

 diameter, 5.8 inches; parietal diameter, 5.6 inches; frontal 

 diameter, 3.5 inches ; vertical diameter, 5 inches ; intermas- 

 toid arch, 14 inches; occipital arch, 12.4 inches; horizontal 

 periphery, 16 inches. 



I have examined, m sitti, a large number of crania bclong- 



Fig. 15. 



Fig. 15, shell ornament 

 from the stone grave of a 

 chilli, at the foot of a 

 mound on the banks of 

 Cumberland River, oppo- 

 site Nashville. 



