362 TRANS. ST. LOUIS ACAD. SCIENCE. 



centre. The same opening and elevated way is seen at the north- 

 ern end, extending to the water. It is doubtless an unfinished 

 work, but its purpose cannot be conjectured. 



About eight miles, in a southeasterly direction, from the works 

 upon Bayou St. John, upon what is known as West Lake, is an 

 extensive group of works almost identical with those described 

 above, differing chiefly in this, that they are covered throughout 

 with a heavy growth of timber ; and the residence sites are found 

 covering a much larger space, and in pi^odigious numbers ; while 

 in the centre of the group is an open space of several acrts which 

 seems to have been made perfectly level, containing no elevations 

 or depressions whatever 



In conclusion, it should perhaps be stated that the works de- 

 scribed thus at length are- only clusters of a continuous line of 

 works extending along the shores for many miles in close connec- 

 tion, and for the most part covered by dense forests, the growth 

 of centuries. 



POTTERY. 



The pottery of this whole region, including several counties in 

 Southeast Missouri, through all the varieties of form and orna- 

 mentation, is so similar, that it would seem as though it might 

 all have been the product of one manufactory. The clay seems 

 first to have been mixed with pounded shells, and the articles 

 then subjected to various degrees of heat. Some of the largest 

 pots were burned till they became red ; the medium sizes are 

 usually dark gray ; while some of the animal forms are of a yel- 

 lowish-drab, and seem to have been made of clay of much finer 

 quality, and with a very smooth surface ; which surface is also 

 frequently ornamented with stripes of white and red lines, in cir- 

 cles, curves, and spirals — the red circles, enclosing white lines, 

 crossing each other at right angles. In fact, the decorations in 

 many instances are quite artistic, not only in the relation of cun'es 

 and angles, but in the representation of animal forms as well, 

 which are so true to nature that we may well believe, that, when 

 the human face is attempted, the artist drew from models before 

 him. 



CRANIA. 



The bones were so thoroughly decayed that very few could be 

 saved, and none in a complete state of preservation. Still, the 



