ARCHEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS EST MISlSlOUKI 163 



infancy to old age. Nearly all were laid north and south ; they were 

 found at all levels from the original surface to the pavement of the 

 upper vault. . . . Scattered among them were fragments of partially 

 cremated bone. The bodies seem to have been interred at various 

 times after death ; in some cases bones were in their proper order ; in 

 others, bundled, bunched, or scattered . . . Two skulls, a jaw, and 

 one pot were secured in fairly good condition" (Fowke, 1910, p. 64). 

 Adjoining Howard County on the east is Boone County, in the cen- 

 tral and southern portions of which a number of chambered mounds 

 have been investigated. The earliest work here of which records are 

 available appears to have been by Broadhead, who, in 1893, opened a 

 solitary mound overlooking Hinkson Creek 2 miles southwest of Co- 

 lumbia (fig. 20, 9). Of this mound it is reported (Ficklin, 1894, 

 p. 145) that— 



Bones were uncovered at the first shovelful, and from the top of the mound 

 to the original surface of the ground there was a mass of bones, etc., in the 

 utmost confusion. Some of the bones had been very badly gnawed. Near the 

 north side of the wall was found a greenstone celt, finely polished, and bearing 

 evidence of much usage. Near the east side occurred the remains of three earth- 

 enware vessels. The fragments of one of these vessels were so intermixed with 

 the skull bones of a child as to make one believe that the pot was placed over 

 the child's head at the time of burial. Near the west wall were found three 

 pipes, both valves of a large mussel shell, and fragments of an ornamented earth- 

 enware vessel. Two of these pipes are in my possession; the other, together 

 with the above-mentioned celt, belongs to Professor Broadhead. 



Throughout the mound occurred little pockets of burned clay containing 

 fragments of bone. 



The wall in this mound was compactly built of flat stones; was 3 feet high; 

 and the enclosed space was an irregular quadrangle in shape ; three of the 

 sides being 8 feet in length, the other 9 feet. No regard was paid to the 

 points of the compass. 



Additional work in the district has since been conducted by the 

 University of Missouri. In 1935 Harrington (1938) opened a mound 

 5 miles south of Columbia on Little Bonne Femme Creek. Though 

 this had been partly demolished by earlier excavators, it was found 

 to contain the remains of a vertical-walled rectangular vault about 

 7 or 8 feet long, with an estimated width of 5 feet or slightly more. 

 The total area covered with stones was about 18 feet in diameter. 

 The walls were only about 20 inches high but may have been higher 

 originally. The chamber floor consisted of three layers of thin care- 

 fully fitted slabs, and it is suggested that the structure was covered 

 with another layer over which earth was piled. No mention is 

 made of a doorway. Within the chamber were two infant skeletons 

 and the scattered bones of an adult male whose skull, on one side, 

 showed evidences of burning. Otherwise, burnt bone fragments were 

 found only outside the vault. No artifacts were found in the vault 



