CHAPTER III. 



STONE ffRAVES AND WHAT TIIEY TEACH. 



In order to stato clearly the aronmeut based upon these works it is 

 necessary to ])reseiit a brief explanation. 



There are several forms and varieties of stone graves or cists found 

 in the mound area, some being of cobble stones, others of slabs; some 

 round, others polygonal; sonic dome-shaped, others square, and others 

 box shaped, or ])arallelograms. lieference is made at present only to 

 the last mentioned — -the box-shaped type, made of stone slabs. If the 

 evidence shows that this variety is found only in certain districts, per- 

 tains to a certain class of works, and is usually accompanied by certain 

 types of art, we are warrai)ted in using it as an ethnic characteristic, 

 or as indicating tbc presence of particular tribes. If it can be shown 

 tbat graves of this form are found in mounds attributed to the so-called 

 mound-builders, and that certain tribes of Indians of historic times 

 were also accustomed to bury in them, we are warranted in assuming 

 that there was a continuity of custom from the mound-building age to 

 historic times, or that graves found in the mouiuls are probably attrib- 

 utable to the same people (or allied tribes) found using them at a later 

 date. This conclusion will be strengthened by finding that certain pe- 

 culiar types of art are limited to the regions where these graves exist, 

 and are found almost exclusively in connection with them. 



These graves, as is well known, are formed of rough and unhewn 

 slabs or flat pieces of stone, thus; First, in a pit some 2 or 3 feet deep 

 and of the desired dimensions, dug for the purpose, a layer of stone is 

 placed to form the floor; next, similar pieces are set on edge to form 

 the sides and ends, over which other slabs are laid flat, forming the 

 covering, the whole when finished making a rude, box-shaped coffin or 

 sepulcher. Sometimes one or more of the six faces are wanting; occa- 

 sionally the bottom consists of a layer of water-worn bowlders; some- 

 times the top is not a single layer of slabs, but other pieces are laid over 

 the joints, and sometimes they are jdaced shingle-fashion. These 

 graves vary in length from 14 inches to 8 feet, and in width from 9 

 inches to 3 feet. 



It is not an unusual thing to find a mound containing a number of 

 these cists arranged in two, three, or more tiers. As a general rule, 

 those not in mounds are near the surface of the ground, and in some 

 instances even projecting above it. It is probable that no one who has 



