130 



MOUND EXPLORATIONS. 



No. 1, the only one of tlie groiiii explored, proved to be very inter- 

 esting. As will be seen by reference to Fig. 05, showing a vertical 

 section, it is located on the very btink of the precipice. 



The upi)er portion (a) to the depth of 14 feet was a single layer com- 

 posed chiefly of yellow clay obtained from the surrounding surface of 

 the blutt'. Near the center, at the depth of 4 feet, was a horizontal 

 bed (6) of hard, gray earth — ai)parently muck from the river, 8 inches 

 thick and covering an area about 20 feet in diameter, and three feet 

 lower another bed (c) of burnt clay about the same thickness and 

 extent as the preceding. Although particles of charcoal were mixed 

 through the latter no ashes were observed on or about it. 



At the deptli of 14 feet the top of what seems to luivc been the nucleus 

 or original mound was reached, over which the heavy mass of clay had 

 been cast at some subsequent period. Over this lay a thin covering of 



Fl<i. 65.— Vertii'al sictioii of Mound Xo. 1. NE. Sec. 27, T. 10, I;. 1! W., Illinois. 



white, ash-like material (//) not more than 2 inches thick and extending 

 on all sides to the original base. This rested, for the most part, on a 

 single layer of stones ((/</), the latter lacking several feet of extending 

 to the outer margin. Examining carefully the stones which formed 

 this layer, evidences of weathering on the upper side were distinctly 

 visible, showing that the mound must have remained undisturbed at 

 this height for a considerable length of time. The thin stratum of ash- 

 like material seems to confirm this view as the decayed stems of grass 

 found near the outer margin show that it was produced by l)uruing a 

 covering of grass which had probably grown over it. The dark spots 

 {d and e) indicate two small fire beds resting on the layer of stones. 



Removing the stones and cutting a trench through the low, broad 

 original mound or nucleus to the natural surface of the bluff, the con- 

 struction was found to be as shown in the figure. By z is indicated 

 an oval basin, 10 by 13 feet, lined throughout with a layer of stones (»«), 

 similar to those above. It was filled with the yellow surface soil of the 

 ridge and covered with the layer of stones g g. The stones below also 

 bore distinct marks of weathering, and were covered with a thin layer 



