THOMAS.) MOUNDS AT PRAIRIE DU CHIEN. 4;) 



lyiug tlat aud leugthwLse, parallel with the walls. The heads of these 

 are indicated by the row of little circles at the bottom. Immediately 

 over these was the layer of mortar; next above this, between the walls 

 and also over the vault forminj;' the body of the mound, was a layer of 

 very hard, light-colored clay mixed with ashes, but no charcoal. The 

 top covering- was of sand and soil to the depth of 18 inches. Before it 

 was disturbed this mound was about 3") feet in diameter and 6 feet 

 high. There was no evidence of Are, but much tending to show that 

 the builders intended to incase the skeletons in a water-tight covering 

 of mortar, which, wlien originally placed there, must have been suffi- 

 ciently soft to run into all the interstices between the skeletons, these 

 all being filled, as were also some of the crania. 



On the depression of the ridge heretofore inentioued, between mounds 

 1 and 3, is mound No. 2. This is an effigy representing a bird (see Fig. 

 8), the dimensions of which an; as follows: Length of body, 42 feet, or 

 total length, including the head and neck, GO feet; of each wing, 42 feet; 

 greatest width of body, IS feet, and greatest elevation 3 feet. Several 

 pits dug in it proved it to ha\'e been constructed wholly of the yellow 



a- — 1& 



Fig. 9. — Section of mound and pit, Prairie du Chien, Wiaconaiu. 



sand and soil of the ridge. No bones or relics of any kind were found 

 in it. The indications lead to the belief that it was carved out of the 

 ridge, rather than thrown up, the wings still forming the crest irom 

 which the head and body slope gradually in opposite directions. 



Mound No. 3 (Fig. 9) is a few paces to the west of No. 2 and on 

 slightly higher ground. This was also partially exiilored by Judge 

 Bronson in 1870, and, with the further examination by the Bureau 

 agent, gave the following results : First, a covering of soil and sand a 

 foot or more in depth (No. .5), next a layer (No. 4) of calcined human 

 bones nearly 2 feet in depth, without order, mingled with charcoal, 

 ashes, and reddish brown mortar (clay and sand), burned as hard as a 

 brick. Immediately below this was a layer (No. 3) 1 foot thick of mor- 

 tar consisting largely of sand burned to a brick-red color. Below this 

 in the layer marked 2 were found the skeletons of 15 or 10 individuals 

 without any arrangement, mingled with which were charcoal, firebrands, 

 and ashes. The bones were charred and portions of them glazed 

 with melted sand. The mass appears to have been first covered M'ith 

 12 ETH 4 



