426 ARCHEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS—II [PTH. ANN. 44 
Mounp 12.—This mound, the most eastern and northern of those 
on the bluff, stood at the extreme end of a spur which projected to- 
ward the east from the upper flat. The crest of the ridge was level 
along the top, but so narrow that it had the appearance of a cause- 
way artificiaily constructed; this was due entirely to erosive in- 
fluences acting from each side. 
The summit of the mound, after much cultivation, was a little less 
than 4 feet above the base, on the western side; in other directions 
it had washed down the slopes and its original boundary could not 
be traced. The owner had dug a small hole in the top to a depth 
of 7 or 8 feet, or to 3 or 4 feet below the level of the ridge on which 
it was built, and, as he said, “ found a brick wall,” at which point he 
stopped digging. As this hole, partially filled, was still about 6 
feet deep, the inference was natural that he had found a large or 
at least a deep grave in or around which was burned earth, and that 
it would be worth investigating. 
A circle 25 feet in diameter, to allow for any alteration in the 
mound from destructive influences, was marked off around the high- 
est part, with the intention of digging a narrow trench around the 
circumference to the original surface and then clearing out the 
earth from every side toward the center. 
The earth first encountered was mostly black, closely packed, and 
sticky, resembling mud from a swamp which had gradually filled 
with decaying vegetation. This was about 2 feet thick at the east 
margin of the excavation, but less than a foot at the west side. As 
it was practically horizontal at the bottom this difference may be 
due to changes produced by plowing and weathering. Below it was 
a rapid alternation of different sorts of material, whitish, gray, 
bluish, yellow, red, brown, and black, which had been deposited in 
various manners. There were strata several feet across and a few 
inches thick of a single kind; irregular patches, either mingled or 
uniform in their nature; small masses, apparently only a single 
basketful. The conditions in which the deposits occurred are such as 
would result from the labors of several parties or individuals, each 
procuring material at any available place and throwing it where 
most convenient or where it was desired; some of it in fairly regular 
layers; some in a pile; some at random as they ascended the slopes. 
On the north side, a foot under the top, was a mass of burned earth, 
irregular in outline, about 10 feet across, and from an inch to 4 
inches in thickness, resulting from fires made on the spot. 
Instead of reaching the bottom within 4 feet or less, as expected, 
the excavation was carried through the same mixed deposits, still 
wet and sticky, for 5 or 6 feet. At this level the effort of throw- 
ing it over the wall around the margin became too great, and it was 
necessary to make another start, this time from the outside. 
