66 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [BULL. 37 
These mounds were not covered with wood, because no traces of it are found; nor 
with stones, otherwise they would be in the vault. If covered at all, and it is highly 
probable they were, the covering must have been of the brick clay of which they are 
composed, and which is well adapted to the purpose, made into a stiff mortar and 
arched over the chamber like a bake oven, with an opening for the escape of smoke 
at the top; or else of the skins of animals, like a tent. 
Many reasons seem to justify the conclusion that these chambers were dwelling 
places as wellas places for interment. The doorway in all the chambers opening to the 
south, the great thickness of the ash heaps on the floor of the chambers, the intermin- 
cling of the bones with the ashes, and the size of the chambers—are all significant facts. 
The depth of the mingled ash heaps in mounds two and five precludes the idea that 
they could have been accumulated by the ordinary funeral rites, even though pro- 
tracted for weeks. The doorway, the number of skeletons, the thickness of ashes, 
preclude the idea of a single interment, the undisturbed upper strata preclude the 
idea of successive interments at different periods. It is probable, from the situations 
in which the remains are found, covered with clay at no greater depth than the floor of 
the chamber, that successive interments, after the soft parts of the body had decayed, 
were made while the chamber was occupied as a dwelling, and so near the surface 
of the floor that the bones were sometimes reached by the domestic fire. 
Another of the mounds above mentioned, which stood in Mr. 
Keller’s garden about a hundred yards north of his house, was opened 
by a party of students, apparently in the summer following Judge 
West’s explorations. They made the following statement of their 
discoveries to the Kansas City Star: 
On the farm of Mr. Eugene Keller in Clay county, a mound was opened and five 
skulls were found, with other bones. As no evidence of fire was found, it is supposed 
that the bodies were not cremated, as were those in the mound opened by Judge 
West last October. One skull was found in an upright position, and almost under it 
were the leg bones. This seems to prove that the body was placed in the mound in a 
sitting posture. Another skeleton was found lying at full length along the side of the 
wall. Between twenty and thirty teeth were found, all in an excellent state of pres- 
ervation. They were all very much worn, some being worn flat, almost to the roots. 
* * * 
The mound contained a square stone chamber, facing almost east and west, with an 
entrance on the eastern side. It is supposed that these mounds were covered with 
earth, supported by a network of branches, and held in place by stones. This theory 
is upheld by the fact that the bones are found so shattered, and that some of the skulls 
were crushed, also by the number of stones found in the mound.» 
In order to ascertain, if possible, the exact nature of the chambers, 
so that a comparison might be made with those farther down the 
river, described in preceding pages of this report, several of these 
mounds were carefully investigated. It was not to be expected 
that skeletons or associated objects would be found if the excavators 
had been thorough in their work; but it could be seen that portions 
of the walls remained in several places, and there was a bare chance 
that something might be discovered which would give a clue to the 
manner and purpose of the construction of these mounds. 
All measurements given in relation to these different groups pertain 
to the mounds as they exist after being cultivated and otherwise 
altered in form. 
