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DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 



appeared to have been thrown up by the plow, we commenced to dig 

 there, though it was not the most prominent part. 



We opened a place about four by six feet (U to IS meters). The frost 

 had penetrated some seven or eight inches (about 20 centimeters), and 

 through this frozen crust our progress was of course quite slow. Below 

 that the earth was comparatively easy to handle, being composed of a 

 dark soil, with some admixture of red clay. At a depth of about fourteen 

 inches (8.5 centimeters) from the surface we found some rock, large 

 irregular pieces, laid closely together, with smaller stones fitting the 

 places between, all within a not very regular area of about two and a 

 half by three feet (i by 1 meter). 



Fig 17. — H, undisturbed earth. T, T, original surface. X, pile of stones. A, cavity in which 

 the tablet was found. Scale, 1-33. 



Thus far our curiosity was hardly excited, there being scarcely any 

 appearance of design in the arrangement. On removing these, however, 

 we found a similar layer just beneath, and under that another course, 

 and so on Siiccessively as we descended. Our interest grew with increas- 

 ing ratio, for we were evidently removing a rude pillar of uncemented 

 masonry. We found a few shells among the rock, but these easily 

 crumbled on being thrown out or handled. When about three feet (1 

 meter) below the surface, we reached a flat, unwrought stone, of rather 

 irregular form, about fourteen inches (35 centimeters) square and one 

 and a half inches (4 centimeters) thick, lying in a horizontal position, at 

 or nearly under the center of the primitive pile. We removed the earth 

 from about this slab, and noticed that it i-ested on a rude structure 

 of stone, resembling in external appearance that which we had re- 

 moved. On raising the flat stone, an irregularly rectangular engraved 

 tablet was suddenly exposed to view — as it lay face up in a walled vault, 

 evidently built expressly for its reception. The vault, like the pillar 

 which surmounted it, was rudely constructed, but substantial, and 

 afforded protection from the settling of the earth and descending moist- 

 ure. The cavity w^as a little larger than tlie tablet, and about five inches 

 (18 centimeters) deep ; the bottom of the vault being on a line with the 

 floor of the mound. This floor was a level and very compact stratum of 

 yellow clay, such as has been frequently noticed and described in refer- 

 ence to other mounds of this group. The tablet lay with the head 

 directed east-north-east. Four flint arrows were found lying on the tab- 



