44 JAMES AND rOTOMAC ARCHEOLOGY [cthnoloqv 



remains and tlie absence of relics in the bone-beds denote the jDeriod- 

 ical collection and interment of skeletons, while the position of the 

 bones and the finding of varions relics in nearly every grave with only 

 1 or 2 skeletons indicate that other persons were bnried soon after 

 death. This was especially the case of infants, nearly all of whom had 

 been interred Avith many beads. 



INIoreover, the bodies occnrred at all levels. In many places graves 

 had been dug after the monnd had been partly or even wholly completed. 

 In others — especially in the bone-be«ls and in 2 or 3 smaller deposits 

 somewhat similar — bones seem to have been laid or thrown on the 

 surface of the monnd and covered with soil. The earth was so uniform 

 in color and consistency that this could not be proved. 



The total niunber of skulls found was 388, but in the bone-beds, as 

 well as in other places where the bones were much broken, only those 

 were counted of which enough remained in position to make certain 

 there could be no duplication. Neither was any account taken of the 

 fragments of cremated skulls found in more than 20 different spots. 

 The mound had been dug into several times previously, in a desultory 

 way, yielding fragmentary skulls to everyone who chose to continue 

 excavation. A great manj- have been destroyed l)y the plow. Alto- 

 gether it is probably safe to say that as originally constructed this 

 was the cemetery of not less than 800 individuals. There is no other 

 mound nor any indication of another burial place in the neighborhood; 

 but half a mile southward, on tlie opposite side of the creek, a great 

 quantity of chips, sjialls, and unfinished implements of fiint foreign to 

 the locality have been found. 



PAGE COUNTY. 



KITE PLACE. 



On the land of A. J. Kite, one-fourth of a mile west of Grove Hill, 

 on a narrow ridge, is a mound nearly leveled by cultivation. It is now 

 75 feet long, north and south, 20 feet wide, and a foot high. Mr Kite 

 states that a few years ago he found near the extreme northern end, 

 just beneath the surface, 17 extended bodies radiating like the spokes in 

 a wheel, tlie skulls lying almost in contact. Over the face of one 

 skeleton was a sheet of mica about 10 by 12 inches and nearly an inch 

 thick, supported by a stone on each side of the skull, no other stones 

 being found. The only art relics were a few gorgets. Afterward, near the 

 center of the mound, Mr Kite unearthed a sandstone jdatform pipe with 

 a turtle carved on top of the bowl, the legs and tail in relief on the sides, 

 the head projecting on the side opposite the stem hole; also about a 

 peck of well-finished quartzite arrowpoints or spearheads. 



At the extreme southern end a few bowlders rested on the original 

 surface over a narrow space about .5 feet long, near one end of which 

 was a side-notched ax and near the other end a sheet of mica; between 

 them was a slate gorget with 2 perforations. A gorget was found at 



