106 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. GO 



thrown serious doubt on the theory of the original association of 

 such remains. A human slveleton, found recently embedded in ter- 

 race deposits near Lansing, Kans., is assigned by some authorities to 

 the lowan phase of the glacial period, while others regard the in- 

 clusion as more recent. Certain relics of stone, attributed to glacial 

 times, have been found in the Ohio and Mississippi Vallej's; these 

 await fuller investigation. Numerous crania of primitive type have 

 been collected from ancient sites in the Missouri Valley and claims 

 to geological antiquity have been promulgated, but Hrdlicka has 

 shown that this type occurs among the modern tribes of the area. 

 The region abounds in caverns, many of which contain traces of 

 occupancy, but none so far examined seems to include in their floor 

 deposits remains of other than the well-known culture products of 

 the Indian tribes. 



Unfortunately for the antiquarian of to-day, the peoples of this 

 area did not construct their buildings of durable materials, and 

 nothing is left to us of their architectural achievements except works 

 constructed of earth and loosely laid stones. These are now mere 

 unshapely mounds and embankments. The buildings of the Natchez 

 and other tribes of the South have been described by early writers, 

 though imperfectly. Many of the walls were of wattlework faced 

 with clay, and the roofs were of bark and thatch. Little that is 

 specific can be ascertained regarding the character of the buildings 

 which must have crowned mounds so great as those of Cahokia and 

 Etowah, or were associated with works so remarkable as those of 

 Marietta, Newark, and Fort Ancient. Man^^ stockades supplemented 

 the embankments in defensive w^orks and served to protect the vil- 

 lages from intruders. Modes of burial within the area were ex- 

 tremely varied, and vast numbei's of the minor works of the people 

 W'Cre deposited as offerings with the dead in ordinary cemeteries, in 

 stone graves of several types, and in earth and stone mounds. Shell 

 heaps, comi)osed mainly of mussel shells, border the rivers in some 

 sections. They contain relics of art of the varieties prevalent in the 

 respective localities. 



The lithic arts were Avonderfully diversified and in some respects 

 highly developed. Sculpture of the human figure had, however, 

 made but slight advance, except in connection with the carved tobacco 

 pipes, where much skill is shown. The mineral resources, in which 

 the region is extremely rich, were well exjiloited and extensively 

 utilized. Stone was employed in a limited way in building walls and 

 fortifications and in the construction of graves, and desirable varieties 

 were quarried on a large scale for the manufacture of implements, 

 utensils, and objects of faith, ceremony, and ornament. Heavily 

 bedded chert deposits Avere worked in Ohio, Arkansas, Kentucky, 



