FOWKE] ANTIQUITIES OF MISSOURI 45 
shown in figure 9, looking toward the center. The earth under 
and among them was very black, but contained no trace of bone or 
other indications of burial. Similar flat rocks, which are abundant 
everywhere on the hillsides, were found at many places in the struc- 
ture; sometimes only 4 or 5, sometimes 20 or 30, placed either as a 
rude pavement, or superposed to some extent. Under some of 
these piles were marks of burials; under others, similarly laid, no 
remains whatever. ‘There were also many stones which appeared as 
if thrown in with the earth, to fill up. Altogether, at least 25 wagon 
loads were taken out. 
On the west side, near the center, were three graves, parallel, the 
longer axes extending practically east and west. The north and south 
diameter of the mound crossed the center of the northern grave and 
the east ends of the other two. The grave farthest south was covered 
with rocks so irregularly placed that their purpose was not suspected 
until most of them were removed. This grave was the largest yet 
discovered. It measured 9 feet 6 inches in length, 3 feet in width at 
each end, 3 feet 8 inches in width at the center, and 6 feet 2 inches 
deep. The corners were somewhat rounded. <A step or bench about 
16 inches high and 14 inches wide extended along the north side, 
while across the east end was a similar bench 28 inches high and 18 
inches wide. These benches were left for use by the excavators that 
they might reach the top in throwing out the earth, which was spread 
around for several feet to the east and the south. On the bottom lay 
a skeleton, extended on its back, with the head toward the west and 
turned to the right. Although the bones were in dry sandy earth 
underlying the loess, they fell to pieces at a touch. The skeleton 
measured 5 feet 9 inches long. The teeth were sound and showed 
signs of but slight wear. Under the lower jaw were six small cylin- 
drical shell beads. The tibiz did not correspond in size or shape; 
one of them showed marks of disease, being somewhat enlarged, 
with the posterior surface flattened. Some traces of white walnut 
were found. This may have been originally over or under the body. 
The middle grave lay almost exactly west of the center, its margin 
4 feet 6 inches north of that of the first; it measured 6 feet 10 inches 
long, 2 feet wide, and 2 feet deep. The earth in it was dry and loose, 
seemingly a perfect preservative of bones; but only minute fragments 
of wood, resembling ashes, or of bone, resembling coarse cornmeal, 
remained in a thin layer on the bottom. Distant 19 inches from 
the west end were teeth of a child. With these were five cylindrical 
shell beads three-fourths of an inch to an inch and a half long and half 
an inch in diameter, drilled lengthwise. 
The north grave was separated from the central one by a space 
of 5 feet 9 inches. It was 7 feet 7 inches long, 2 feet 5 inches wide, 
