68 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY Ibull. 71 



hud been inclosed in a cavity protected by flat stones, thus resembling 

 the stone-lined graves of the region. Such were the conditions 

 revealed in a cave some 4 miles distant from Mammoth Cave, in 

 Warren County, Kentucl^y. Here the remains Avere '' found at the 

 depth of about ten feet from the surface of the cave, placed in a 

 sitting posture, incased in broad stones, standing on their edges, with 

 a flat stone covering the whole. It was enveloped in coarse clothes 

 . . . the whole wrapped in deer skins, the hair of which was shaved 

 off in the manner in which Indians prepare them for market. En- 

 closed in the stone coffin, were the working utensils, beads, feathers, 

 and other ornaments of dress, which belonged to her. . . . This place 

 the cave had evident marks of having once been the residence of the 

 aborigines of the country, from the quantity of ashes, and the remains 

 of fuel, and torches made of reed, &c. which were found in it." Other 

 remains had been discovered in this cave previously to the one just 

 described. This was written October 2, 1817. (Wilkins, (1), pp. 

 361-364.) 



Differing from all the cave burials now mentioned, in which the re- 

 mains had been carefully prepared and wrapped, then deposited with 

 various ornaments, was a discovery made about 1| miles northeast of 

 Hardinsburgh, Breckinridge County, Kentucky. Here a great mass 

 of bones was found. " The cavern is open toward the south, the over- 

 hanging roof protecting the space below from exposure to the ele- 

 ments from above, while immense masses of fallen rock make a wall 

 from ten to twelve feet high, directly in front, between which and 

 the rear wall of the cavern the deposit containing the human remains 

 was found. This deposit consists almost entirely of wood ashes. . . . 

 The deposit is about eight by fifteen feet superficial measure, and 

 was about seven feet in depth. In it, without order, were found 

 thirty or more human skeletons, nearly all with a flat stone laid upon 

 their heads. There were infants and adults promiscuously buried at 

 various depths in the ashes, and at the bottom, on a layer of broken 

 stones, some charred human remains were found. . . . Mingled with 

 these remains many flint and other stone implements and weapons 

 were found, with a few fragments of rude pottery." (Robertson, 

 (l),p.367.) 



Resembling the preceding was a cave in Marshall County, Alabama, 

 about 1 mile west of Guntersville, a short distance from the bank of 

 the Tennessee. " Its floor is covered to the depth of four feet with 

 fragments of human bones, earth, ashes, and broken stones. This 

 fragmentary condition of the deposits is chiefly due to the fact that 

 they have been repeatedly turned over by tl-easure hunters. Much 

 of this deposit has been hauled away in sacks for fertilizing the 

 land. The number of dead deposited here must have been very great. 



