Thomas.] CAHOKIA MOUNDS. 133 



counties and nearly east of the Great Cahokia mound. This was con- 

 ical in shape and formed a landmark for some distance around. At 

 the depth of about 3 feet the earth, which was a yellowish clay, became 

 dry and very hard and quite different in character from the loess of the 

 bluff on which the mound stands. At the depth of about 12 feet a 

 layer of ashes, nearly an inch thick, was disclosed, and a foot below 

 this another layer of ashes a foot or more in thickness. Excepting some 

 thin, flat pieces of sandstone there were no relics nor other remains, not 

 even a portion of bone. Below the ashes the eai'th showed the effect 

 of heat for a few inches, but seemed to be the undisturbed surface of 

 the bluff. 



Near this mound the projecting point of the bluff has been changed 

 to form a flat circular platform that nuglit, in times past, have served 

 for some aboriginal purpose, possibly an outlook or signal station, as 

 it occupies one of the highest points and overlooks the whole plain of 

 the Cahokia. Numerous excavations in this vicinity revealed the fact 

 that at one time the top of the bluff had been a burying place, and 

 from a small elevation in the loess, that might originally have been a 

 mound of some dimensions — for the place is under cultivation — a toler- 

 ably well-preserved skull was obtained. There were three entire skel- 

 etons in the mound, the skulls of two being crushed. 



These burials were made by laying the bodies on their sides or backs, 

 with the limbs straight. The form of the skull seems to be a conuiion 

 one on the bluff, but, as the exi)lorer thinks, somewhat diflerent from 

 those found by him in the bottom or low lands. No relics of any kind 

 were found witli these bones. 



It is worthy of note that nearly all the relics found at the Cahokia 

 group of mounds have been taken from the low ground between the 

 mounds. The remarkable find of pottery, implements, and shells made 

 by Mr. McAdams in the winter of 1881 was in the low land a short dis- 

 tance from the northeast corner of the great mound. The articles were 

 nearly all taken from a square rod of ground. This has been to some 

 extent Dr. Patrick's experience in making his fine collection of pottery. 



The real burial place of the builders of th e Cahokia mounds probably 

 is yet to be discovered. 



The bank of Cahokia creek during the occupation of the mounds was 

 evidently more to the south than its present line alon g the eastern part 

 of the group. The old bank is still plainly visible, as shown in PI. 

 VI. The low laud between this old bank and the creek is now cov- 

 ered with forest trees. All along this bank, which forms the edge of 

 the plateau on which the mounds stand, are abundant evidences of 

 occupation in remote times. In digging 2 or 3 feet at almost any point 

 along this bank indications of fireplaces are found, with numerous river 

 shells, broken pottery, and kitchen refuse. As all the arable ground 

 about the mound has been iu cultivation many years, it is quite possi- 

 ble that some of the burial places, which are usually quite shallow, have 



