HOLMES.] GRAVES AND HUM AX REMAINS. 19 



of river stones, was found covering an area of about 10 by 1.'3 feet. 

 This leaving was apparently the surface of a pack about 2 feet thick. 



Fig. 4. Compound cist, described by De Zeltner. 



and covered tlie mouth of the main pit, which was some f! or 7 feet 

 deep. Pillars of cobble stones about 10 inches in diameter occupied 

 the corners of the pit, and probably served in a measure to sujiport 

 the paving. In the bottom of this excavation a second pit was dug. 

 the mouth of which was also covered by a paving 24 by upwards of 

 3 feet in horizontal dimensions. This lower pit consisted of a shaft 

 several feet in depth, by which descent was made into a chamber 

 of inverted pyramidal shape. This chamber aj)proximated 6 by 9 

 feet in horizontal dimensions and was some i or o feet deep. At the 

 bottom of this cistern the human remains and most of the relics were 

 deposited. The shaft was filled in with earth and the pavings de- 

 scribed. The -total depth, computed from the figures given, is about 

 18 feet, a most remarkable achievement for a barbarous people; yet 

 this is equaled by tlie ancient tribes of the mainland of New Granada, 

 where similar burial customs seem to have prevailed. Mr. White,' 

 who traveled extensively in the nortliwestern part of the state, says: 

 A dry, elevated ridge, composed of easily excavated material, was selected as the 

 cemetery. A pit of only a yard or so in diameter was sunk, sometimes vertically, 

 sometimes at an angle, or sometimes it varied from vertical to inclined. It was 

 sunk to depths varying from 15 to 60 feet, and at the bottom ;i clininlwr was 

 formed in the earth. Here the dead was deposited, with his arms, i, ,,,].- r.«iking 

 utensils, ornaments, and chattels generally, with maize and fenm iin <l li,|ii(.i made 

 of maize. The chamber and pnssn.^'i' wore t)ion rnmmrMl tiulitiv lull nt i-.n-lji. ;ind 

 sometimes it would appear thai |"(iili:ii .miIIi. ..ilin than ihat i\. .i\ ah^l "n the 

 spot, was used. Onenot unfreciiiriiil> il.'ti-ri- :i |..>.uliai- aii.ui.ith- -mhII m ili.' cartli. 

 and fragTnents of charcoal are aluay.s timiul mixed witli it m iiioiv ..r less ,|Uaiitity. 



' B. B. White: Jour. Anthrop. Inst. Great Britain and Ireland, p. 246. Febniarj 



1884. 



