THE RICE LAKE MOUNDS. 



95 



the strut'tiire and resting on the original surface of tlie gully. This 

 consisted of clay mixed with sand and was very hard. It appeared to 

 be composed of small, rounded masses about 10 to 18 inches in diame- 

 ter and 6 to 10 inches thick, doubtless representing the loads deposited 

 by the builders. Lying on the original surface of the ground, under- 

 neath the core, were two skeletons (1 and 2) bundled, as was the case 

 with nearly all found in this group. The bundling was done by plac- 

 ing the long bones together as closely as possible around the ribs, the 

 vertebral bones being placed here and there so as to render the bundle 

 as compact as possible. Close to these were the charred remains of 

 another skeleton (3) pressed into a layer scarcely exceeding an inch in 

 thickness, but, as there were no signs of fire, ashes, or coals on the sur- 

 face beneath, burning must have taken place before burial. As all the 

 skeletons were under the core, and the small masses heretofore men- 

 tioned showed no signs of disturbance, they must have been buried at 

 one time. 



Mound 24 measured but 22 feet in diameter and 3 in height. It dif- 

 fered from No. 1 only in containing four skeletons, none of them charred. 



Fio. 47 — Mound No. 1, Rice lake group. 



Mound 26, but 25 feet in diameter and 4 feet high, contained four 

 skeletons of the original burial and three of intrusive burial, as did also 

 No. 35. 



In No. 4(J there had been seven original burials, at the base of the 

 core, as usual, one of a child, — no intrusive burials. 



No. 8, oval in outline, 36 feet long, 26 feet wide, and 5 feet high, 

 differed from the others, as it lacked the core and layer of sandy loam. 

 With the exception of the top layer of vegetable mold it consisted of 

 yellowish clay mixed with sand, probably taken from the immediately 

 surrounding surface. Six skeletons were found in it; the first, 3 feet 

 south of the apex and at a depth of 2 feet. No. 2 a foot and a half 

 south of the first. These two api)eared to have been buried at the 

 same time, or nearly so, and most likely were intrusive burials. No. 3 

 was at the bottom, on the original surfece, under No. 1 ; No. i a foot 

 northeast of 3; No. 5 two feet east of the last; and No. 6 a foot north 

 of No. 5. The last four skeletons were probably the first interments 

 in the mound, and appear to have been buried about the same time 

 from the fact that they were bundled, and the bones clean and white, 

 although so soft as to fall in pieces when exposed to the atmosphere. 



Mound No. 11, standing east of No. 8, is also oblong, 35 feet long, 



