STONE GRAVES IN UNION COUNTY. 



161 



handled. This grave was very dry, and nearly full of a loose, dry, 

 yellowish earth. 



Four other stone graves were opened in section 20, same township 

 and range. These were on a stony bench, east of the bottom, about 30 

 feet high. They were of the same form and size as the others, but 

 were only about inches under the sivrface. These graves contained 

 nothing but rotten bones. 



Another ancient cemetery is situated on the brow of a high, abrupt 

 hill, NW. i Sec. 16, T. 10 S., E. 2 W., at the foot of which is the " Upper 

 Bluff lake." The graves are of stone, similar to those mentioned. 

 Quite a number had been previously opened by Mr. T. M. Perrine. 



Grave No. 1 contained the skeleton of an adult, extended, face up, 

 head west. The cover to the cofiSn, which had not been disturbed, 

 was 2 feet below the surface. 



In this grave were one discoidal stone, one shell, and several pieces 

 of copper plates. One of the latter, badly corroded, bears the impressed 

 figure of a bird, similar to that 

 shown further on in PI. xviii, but 

 wanting the head; the other, 

 bearing dancing figures, is fortu- 

 nately but slightly corroded; it 

 measures 6 by 6^ inches, and is 

 shown in Fig. 85. The latter 

 plate was lying flat on the bottom 

 rock of the grave at the left of 

 the skull immediately above the 

 shoulder. 



No. 2, only 2 feet long, was evi- 

 dently the grave of a child, as 

 indicated by the skeleton. In it 

 was an earthen bowl. 



No. 3 contained all the bones 



Fig. 85. 



-Copper plato bearing dancing figures. 

 Union county, niinois. 



of a fiill- sized adult, but they were piled together in a coffin only 2 

 feet long. Most of them were quite firm, but the skull was broken. 

 With them was an earthenware pot with two handles or ears. 



No. i was the grave of a child and contained, besides the skeleton, 

 two earthern vessels, one a small dish, at the head, the other, a bowl, 

 at the feet. Over this grave stands a black oak 9 feet in circumfer- 

 ence which has evidently grown there since the grave was made, as 

 some of the largest roots ran into it. Immediately under the trunk 

 was another grave which was partially explored through the large hol- 

 low of the base. From it was obtained a broken dish. Upon one of 

 the graves had been piled as much as a wagonload of stones. This 

 was a few feet down the slope of the hill, and contained three skeletons 

 and one long-necked water vessel. 



In the majority of the graves opened at this place the skulls were 



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