158 MOUND EXPLORATIONS. 



As the. pit suuk by Mr. Perriiie was very near tliis poiut there can 

 be no doubt that this was a j)ortion of the arch he speaks of. He also 

 speaks of a wall of stone. This was not found, unless the large stone 

 mentioned formed a part of it. 



This arch or dome of clay had evidently been spread over the surface 

 of the mound when it had reached a height of 5 or G feet and over this 

 dry grass and brush liad been spread and burned. A large quantity 

 of the charred grass and bits of wood-coal were found around the mar- 

 gin of this arch as far as explored, making it apparent that the fire had 

 been extinguished probably by tlirowing dirt upon it before the grass 

 and bi'ush were entirely con.sumed. Immediately below the arch we 

 came upon a thick loose bed of ashes. 



In another pit the strata were as follows: First, a layer of earth with 

 particles of charcoal mixed through it, 3 feet 8 inches; next, a layer of 

 burnt sand and clay with evidences of straw having been used, 3 

 inches; then another layer of earth 1 foot 10 inches; then a second 

 layer of burnt sand and clay 4 inches thick, with indications of straw; 

 next, a layer of sand 5 inches ; then a third layer of burnt saud and clay 

 3 inches (similar to the others); a layer of sand, 3 feet; and last a layer 

 of ashes, 3 inches. 



But few things were found during these excavations ; still they are of 

 some importance in our eflbrts to learn the method and object of build- 

 ing this mound. They consist of burnt straw, grass, and charcoal found 

 on the upper side of each layer of burnt clay, the clay itself showing 

 evidence of having grass mixed with it. Possibly this admixture may 

 have resulted from tramping the grass into tlie soft clay while spread- 

 ing it over the surface previous to tiring it. 



Fragments of burnt, cherty limestone, similar to that composing the 

 little mound at the south end, marked c in Fig. 8.'?, were found all through 

 the second trench. Numerous fi'agments of pottery and several frag- 

 ments of human bones ; irregular pieces of burnt clay resembling brick ; 

 a few fragments of river shells ( Unio); and some rnde flint implements 

 were also found. Among tlie ashes at the bottom were some fragments 

 of bone and pottery; one of the pieces of bone was found in the concave 

 side of a large fragment of pottery. At another jioint in the same layer 

 were fragments of pottery, bones, and sliells. 



Firmly imbedded in the middle layer of burnt clay, was a broken 

 pot and with it were pieces of bone. Three feet from the surface and 

 abov(^ the upper layer of clay, another broken pot was obtained; this 

 was filled with ashes, firmly packed and mixed with particles of char- 

 coal. Under the second layer of clay was a small pot filled with saud 

 with a thin layer of ashes on the top. At one point between the upper 

 and middle layers of clay was a small bed of ashes mixed with frag- 

 ments of lottery, animal bones, and a piece of shell. In a snmll bed 

 of ashes under the middle layer of clay were potsherds and some 

 broken and split bones. 



