124 



MOUND EXPLORATIONS. 



edge of the tumulus. Two bird-shaped stoue pipes (Nos. 134706 aud 

 134767) were taken from the layer of burnt earth and three chii^ped 

 implements were also found in the same layer. 



No. 8, a section of which is shown in Fig. 63, also presents some vari- 

 ations worthy of notice. In this figure, e is the surface accumulation of 

 vegetable mold, 3 inches thick; / the yellow clay body of the mound, 

 2 feet thick; h a mass of burned clay; 7i a layer about 2 inches thick 

 of dark, greasy earth; m an excavation in the original soil. The clay 

 mass h had been burned to a brick red, and in the center was as hard 

 as a brick. The grave was about 6 feet long by 2^ in width, and cou- 



FlG. 60.— Mound No. 4, Sec. 34, T. 10, E. 2, Calhoun county, Illinois. 



tained the skeleton, probably of a female, lying on its back at full 

 length. Immediately under the southwest end of the burned clay 

 mass were the charred remains of three skeletons; and at g fragments 

 of charred animal and human bones. 



A mound on the NE. ^ Sec. 15, T. 10 S., R. 3 W., standing on the 

 brink of a blutf, presented the following features : It measured a little 

 over 4 feet high aud 30 feet in diameter, and was composed entirely of 

 clay from the surface of the ridge immediately to the west, as was 

 apparent ti'om an excavation at this point some 2 feet deep. Contrary 

 to the rule, this contained no covering of vegetable mold. The north- 

 ern, eastern, and southern margins were strengthened by flat stones 

 (see Fig. 63), probably to prevent washing, as the sui'face of the ridge 

 sloped rapidly away in these directions. 



The important feature of the mound was the number of skeletons 



