104 MOUND EXPLORATIONS. 



ashes or something of a siinihir nature and color, giving this covering 

 the appearance of dried lime or mortar. 



Fragments of iiottery were found in abundance in the circle, in the 

 mounds, in the washouts, and in fact at almost every x^oint in the area 

 covered by the group. Judging by the fragments, for not a single 

 entire vessel was obtained, the prevailing forms were the ordinary 

 earthen pot with ears, and a flask or gourd-shaped vase with a rather 

 broad and short neck. The latter were the larger ones and were usually 

 too thin for use in cooking, or even for holding liquids. The paste of 

 which this pottery was made had evidently been mixed with pounded 

 shells. The only ornamentation observed consisted in the varied forms 

 given the handles or ears, and indentations or scratched lines. 



Nearly all the implements found were of stone, exceedingly rude, 

 being little Ise than stone flakes with one sharp edge, many of which 

 appear to have been resharpened and used as knives, scrapers, and 

 skinners. Some had been worked into moderately fair perforators or 

 drills for making holes in horn, bone, or shell, specimens of all these 

 with holes having been found. 



The immense quantity of charred and fractured bones, not only of 

 fishes, birds, and the smaller quadrupeds, such as the labbit and fox, but 

 also of the bear, wolf, elk, and deer, shows that the occupants of this 

 place lived chiefly by the chase, and hence must have used the bow and 

 arrow and spear; yet, strange to say, less than a dozen arrow or spear 

 heads were found, and these so rude as scarcely to deserve the name. 

 A single true chipped celt, three sandstones with mortar-shaped cavi- 

 ties, and a few mullers or flat stones used for grinding or some sim- 

 ilar purpose, were obtained. The specimens of other materials obtained 

 consist of fragments of horn, evidently cut around by some rude instru- 

 ment and then broken off at about a finger's length and possibly 

 intended to be shaped into more perfect implements, or probably 

 handles for knives. Several horn and bone punches and awls were 

 also found, and among them one that is barbed, and another with a per- 

 foration through the larger end. 



ANCIENT INCLOSrKK ON UAYs's FARM. 



On the farm of Mr. A. D. Hays, 2 miles southwest of New Albin, is 

 the circular inclosure shown in Fig. 49. This is situated on the lower 

 bluff just above the i)oint where the Little Iowa river enters the Mis- 

 sissippi. The bluff here is about 100 feet higher than the bottoms 

 which border these streams, and continues along the Mississippi for 

 some distance at about the same height, with small circular mounds 

 scattered over its surface; but the plateau slopes gradually to the mar- 

 gin of a deep ravine which enters the Little Iowa upon the western 

 side. This area, including the circle, has been under cultivation for 

 twenty-one years ; but, notwithstanding the wear, the lines of the works 

 were distinctly traceable throughout. 



