188 BULLETIN 183, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



people who dwelt at the Renner site. At the same time, a stone vault 

 of similar type near Waldron has recently yielded, in addition to dis- 

 articulated human bones, two small pots virtually indistinguishable 

 from the better grade of ware at the Renner site. At a number of 

 other points in the Kansas City area groups of stone burial enclosures 

 have been found in proximity to village sites whose pottery and other 

 remains are closely similar to those at Renners'. As I have suggested 

 elsewhere in this paper, I am of the opinion that the stone vaults on 

 Line Creek, on Pearl Branch, and elsewhere in the locality, represent 

 the burying places of the people who inhabited the Renner and cul- 

 turally related sites in the area. This view is subject to modification, 

 or even to abandonment if necessary, in light of future findings. It 

 does not overlook the fact that Shippee found a roulette-decorated 

 pot, a large well-chipped blade, and scraps of native copper in an 

 earth mound west of the Renner village site. These finds suggest 

 that the dead may have been occasionally placed in earth tumuli 

 rather than in stone vaults. As a rule, however, I believe that the 

 earth mounds of the Kansas City area pertain to a different, probably 

 later, archeological horizon. 



If, in the above paragraph, the stone chambered burial mounds of 

 the Kansas City area are referred to the correct village horizon, it is 

 noteworthy that the few measureable skeletal remains extant indi- 

 cate a dolichocranic high-headed population of medium stature. 

 Frontal deformation was practiced, and there is evidence that syphi- 

 lis was present. 



The Steed-Kisker site on Platte River also represents the remains 

 of a small, relatively sedentary, aboriginal settlement. Here the 

 archeological evidences are somewhat more scattered than at Ren- 

 ners', presumably because the village was less compact and occupied 

 a greater area. Directly indicated are rectangular semisubterranean 

 earthlodges with central fireplace, four primary roof supports, and 

 vestibule entrance. Charred maize, sunflower seeds, bits of pumpkin, 

 or squash, and mussel-shell hoes are proof of horticultural pursuits. 

 The muller and inferentially also the mealing slab were present. 

 Papaw seeds and nut fragments show that wild-fruit products were 

 utilized, and deer bones indicate a considerable reliance on hunting. 

 The domestic dog was present. 



The range of known artifact types here is rather more limited than 

 at the Renner site, but this is probably due to our relatively smaller 

 sample. Arrowpoints are unifonnly small, of chert, with or with- 

 out side notches. A single crudely ground notched ax was found 

 on the surface. There is reason to believe that boat-shaped paired 

 sandstone arrowshaft smoothers were in common use. Knives in- 

 cluded ovoid and 4-eclged types, with a few flake forms showing 

 finely retouched edges. For skin-dressing, there were small un- 



