36 JAMES AND POTOMAC ARCHEOLOGY [^thn' 



AU OK 

 ETHNOLOOY 



where for a time and afterwards removing the dismembered bones to 

 this ossuary. That no stated intervals elapsed between consecutive 

 deposits is shown by the varying' position and size among the ditlerent 

 bone-beds, and by the overlapping of many of the graves beneath. 



It is impossible to accurately estimate the number of skeletons ibund 

 in this mound; but there were certainly not fewer than 200, and there 

 may possibly liave been 250. These figures will represent, approxi- 

 mately, one-fourth of the entire number dei)osited, if the statements as 

 to the original size of the mound be correct. 



In its construction this mound corresponds closely with one opened 

 by Jefierson a few miles above (Jharlottesville in low ground of the 

 IJivanna, except that no mention was made of graves occurring below 

 the original surface; but these might easily have been overlooked in 

 the method of excavation pursued. The contents were such "as on 

 the whole to give the idea of bones emptied promiscuously from a bag 

 or basket and covered with earth, without' any attention to their 

 order." ^ As in the mound above described, " the bones near the top 

 were in a nmch better state of preservation than those toward tlie 

 bottom." This is due probably less to their being of much later deposit 

 than to the drier earth near the top. We are further told (pp. l!»l, 

 102) that " a party [of Indians] passingabout thirty years ago [i. e., about 

 1751] through the part of the country where this barro^^' is went through 

 the woods directly to it, without any instructions or inquiry, and having 

 staid about it some time, with expressions which were construed to be 

 those of sorrow, they returned to the high road, which they had left 

 about half a dozen miles to pay this visit, and pursued their journey." 

 It is very unfortunate that no one took the trouble to learn to what 

 tribe these travelers belonged, as this knowledge would have given a 

 clue to the fate of the aborigines of this part of Virginia. 



MADISON COUNTY. 



Near the Orange and Madison road, 2 miles from Eapidan river, is 

 an outcrop of steatite half a mile in length, but nowhere more than 

 a few rods in width. At the extreme northern end are 5 or G excava- 

 tions, none more than a foot deep and 10 or 12 feet across. The stone 

 is either too siliceous or too porous to be suitable for aboriginal pur- 

 poses, hence was but little utilized. 



CULPEPER COUNTY. 



WAYLAND MILL. 



On Crooked run, a mile and a half west of the Orange and Culpeper 

 road, an outcrop of steatite fully half a mile in length has been excavated 

 over its entire extent. At this place is the largest excavation in this 

 material yet discovered; it is fully 150 feet across. On one side the 



'Jeli'ersou, Notes, p. 158. 



