ARCHEOLOGICAL rKYESTIGATIOlSrS INT RnSSOURI 161 



presenting an appearance very like the oldest form of cyclopean masonry in 

 Greece. They are all essentially the same, their dimensions being nine feet 

 in width, eleven in length, and six in depth. 



We should state that these are the measurements of the box, the mound itself 

 being about fifty feet in circumference at the base and ten in height. 



The other report (Anon., 1878) says that the largest mound — 



is about 35 feet in diameter at the base and about 5 feet high in the center. The 

 vault is 7 by 13 feet, surrounded by a rude wall of thin limestone slabs and covered 

 by the same. In the vault were found the remains of 17 human beings, arranged 

 in two rows of eight each and the odd one in the middle — the skulls being about 

 one foot apart. The earth was so packed about them that it was difficult to 

 secure bones in perfection, yet a number of jaws, tliigh bones, etc. were saved. 



About midway of the vault on the south side a pottery jar was found of a 

 capacity of three quarts. The rim has an attempt at ornamentation. Around the 

 neck is the remains of what was a copper band about an inch in width, while 

 around the widest part, at the middle of the jar, is a two-inch band of thin silver. 

 In the northwest corner a similar jar was found, but without the bands. There 

 were also arrowheads, pieces of lead ore, paints, etc., found mixed with the 

 bones, and at the west end were found several stone pipes, some of soapstone, 

 others of bluish sandstone. One was about six inches in length, with the bowl, 

 stem, and holder all cut fi'om one piece of stone. Some of the red paint is very 

 soft, and when rubbed on the hand has a peculiar lustrous metallic appearance. 



In the other mounds were found flint arrowheads, red ochre and other paints, 

 and round pieces of flint, supposed to be for grinding purposes, and also good 

 sized lumps of lead ore. . . . Several deer horns were also found, and had the 

 appearance of having been used as implements, as daggers, or something of that 

 nature. 



Stevenson (1878, pp. 108-109) also mentions the pot with the metal 

 bands, the hematite, and worked bone and flint. He observes further 



that— 



Plates of mica have been unearthed, discolored with clay and so disconnected 

 from all else as to leave their use only a matter of conjecture. 



A very interesting specimen and one which bears largely upon the history of 

 this people, is a large conch shell, nine inches in diameter, and eleven inches 

 long. 



One of the important relics is made of greenish-blue slate and is what is known 

 as a "skinning knife" or "scraper," the grooves running across it in various 

 directions showing a rude attempt at ornamentation, while the hole drilled 

 through it shows its means of attachment to the person. . . . 



Another remarkable instrument found is a circular disk of a peculiarly fine 

 grained stone with a groove around the edge, and a partial perforation at the 

 center. It is 2?4 inches in diameter and one inch thick. The stone of which 

 this implement is made is rather soft and contains much lime . . . The fine polish 

 given to the disk indicates the laborious use of sand and water. 



It is extremely difficult to judge in how far the descriptions par- 

 tially quoted above derive from really adequate observations. The 

 disparity in mound dimensions may reflect simply the fact that both 

 observers were speaking in general rather than specific terms ; or per- 

 haps one or the other, or even both, parties was using hearsay state- 



