PREFACE. 23 



not only almost every variety of material, form, and ornameutatioa 

 hitherto obtained in the United States east of the Kocliy ]Monutains, 

 bnt also many new and interesting kinds. 



The chief value of the work to aiTheologists, however, it is believed 

 will be found in the descriptions of the mounds explored and groux)S 

 examined and surveyed. In order that students of American archeol- 

 ogy may have as complete illustrations as possible of groups and forms, 

 not only are figures given but in numerous instances the complete field 

 notes of surveys and measurements are added. 



The sections in whicli operations have chiefly been cairied on are as 

 follows: Southwestern Wisconsin and the adjoining sections of Minne- 

 sota, Iowa, and Illinois; the northeastern and southeastern parts of 

 Missouri; the western part of southern Illinois; the eastern part of 

 Arkansas; certain points in northern and western Mississippi; tlie 

 Kanawha Valley of West Virginia; eastern Tennessee, western Korth 

 Carolina, and northern Georgia. Some work has also been done in 

 northern Florida, New York, Ohio, tlie Wabash valley, Kentucky, 

 western Tennessee, Alabama, southwestern Georgia, and the Dakotas. 

 Hundi'eds of groujis have been examined and in most cases surveyed, 

 platted, and described. Over 2,000 mounds have been explored, includ- 

 ing almost every known type of form, from the low, diminutive, circular 

 burial tumulus of the north to the huge truncated earthen pyramid of 

 the south, the embankment, the stone cairn, the house site, etc. Every 

 variety of construction hitherto known, as well as a number decidedly 

 difterent in detail, have been examined. Some of the latter are very 

 interesting and furnish important data. Particular attention has been 

 paid to the mode of construction and methods of burial in the ordinary 

 conical tumuli, because these fnrnish valuable evidence in regard to the 

 customs of the builders and aid in determining the different archeolog- 

 ical districts. Many ancient graves and cemeteries and also several 

 caches and cave deposits have been explored. 



Perhaps the most important portion of the collection from an archeo 

 logical view is the pottery, of which some 1,500 specimens have been 

 obtained, including most of the known varieties and several that are 

 new in form and ornamentation. It is believed that this collection will 

 be found to contain most, if not all, of the hitherto known types of tex- 

 tile impressions and some that are unusual. As the history of each 

 specimen is known and its genuineness unquestioned, the collection 

 will be of great value to antiquarians. 



An unusually large number of polished and pecked celts has been 

 secured, including every known pattern and variety yet found in the 

 area investigated. Special value attaches to this collection of celts 

 from the fact that it has been obtained mostly from mounds and hence 

 aflords a means of comparing true mound specimens with surface finds. 



The number of stone pipes obtained is proportionally great, includ- 

 ing a large percentage of the usual forms and some new ones. But the 



