GASS ON MOUND EXPLORATIONS. 97 



per beads, fragments of pottery, a piece of yellow pigment. A piece of 

 mica, two crystals of " dog-tooth spar," some flakes of selenite, and a 

 flint arrow head were afterwards found as mentioned in the supple- 

 mentary report. In all parts of this grave, above the bones, we found 

 many pieces of rotten wood, and, in one instance, a piece of bone about 

 three inches in length, apparently artificially wrought. 



The two shell layers over the grave B Avere united toward the middle 

 of the mound, and forri.ed a continuous layer, with the shells in the 

 southern part, showing that both of the graves were covered at the same 

 time. These layers were lowest immediately over each grave. The shell 

 beds are composed of the species of river shells common in this vicinity, 

 and lying flat-wise in a horizontal position, and frequently in pairs, never 

 having been separated. They extended about two or three feet beyond 

 the graves in every direction, terminating in a border of stones, fitted 

 closely together, and forming on the north and south sides a layer of about 

 two feet in width, and on the east and Avest sides cDusisting of only a 

 single row (s s).' 



Over the middle of the broad layer of stones on the north side, was 

 found a bed of ashes and a number of human bones, and at the junction 

 of the layer of shells and stones at the northwest corner, and imme- 

 diately beneath them a few fragments of bones, with cuts or scratches, 

 like those above described, found on the south side. It was remarked 

 that in the earth near the surface of all parts of the mound were found 

 more or less human bones, showing that it was used as a burial place in 

 comparatively modern times. The piece of pottery represented in Fig. 

 4, PI. VIII, Vol. I, was found at the top of this mound, and pieces were 

 also found at the top of other mounds of this group. 



It is not impossible that additional discoveries may be the reward of 

 further explorations in tliese grounds when a favorable opportunity shall 

 be presented. 



REPORT OF CONTINUED EXPLORATION FOR THE ACADEMY, CONDUCTED 



BY MR. GASS. 



Having finished the further examination of the mounds of the Cook 

 Farm group, and particularly of Mound No. 3, conducted in the interest 

 and at the request of the Academy, I would present the following addi- 

 tional report of the work. 



It was in this further exploration that the copper axe J^o. 21, a number 

 of copper beads and fragments of pottery and yellow pigment, mentioned 

 in the description of this mound were obtained. The value of these 

 articles m themselves is scarcely commensurate with the expense in- 

 curred, but the opportunity thus afforded for further observations upon 

 the structure of the mound was very desirable, and has given us a better 

 understanding of the whole, and I would present my thanks to the Acad- 

 emy for thus having enabled me to prosecute the work to completion, and 

 to present a more full description of the entire structure. 



After the finding of the tablets, some intruders entered the excavation 



[Proc. D. A. N. S. Vol. II.] 14 [April, 1S77.] 



