182 MOUND EXPLORATIONS. 



fou7iditto consist of nn exterual layer of surface soil, varying in depth 

 from 2 to 3 feet, and au inner core of hard clay. This inner core, which 

 evidently constituted the original mound, consisted of dry compact 

 day so hard that an ax was used to cut it. It was almost as dry as 

 powder and of an ash-gray color, having here and there as we de- 

 scended the appearance of being slightly mixed with ashes. At the 

 depth of 5 feet a broken pot-shaped jar, of ware similar to that usual 

 to this region, was discovered. At this point a. few ashes and some 

 slight indications of fire were noticed. The same dry hard clay con- 

 tinued to the bottom of the pit (which was carried down to the depth 

 of 17 feet), except one thin layer of sand about G inches thick at the 

 depth of 10 feet. Other pits dug in the sides and near the base re- 

 v^ealed ample evidence of flre, indicating that after the central core was 

 completed a quantity of brush and leaves had been burned over it, the 

 coals and ashes sliding down, as it is (juite steep, so that near the base 

 a layer of charcoal several inches thick was formed. A thin layer of 

 surface soil must have been thrown over it while burning, as consider- 

 able quantities of charred leaves were found mixed with the charcoal. 

 In one of the iiits some human bones were discovered before reaching 

 the clay, doubtless au intrusive burial. 



Tliis mound, as will be seen by reference to the plat, is outside of the 

 hachured line which represents the edge or break of the general level, 

 and is some 6 feet lower and on the same level as the road and not more 

 than C or 7 feet above the usual water level of the swamp. 



Pits were sunk in Xo. 22 to the original surface without finding any- 

 thing of interest save some fragments of pottery. The height of this 

 mound was found to be a little over 5 feet, and the composition, after 

 passing througli the surface soil, a niiif(n'm mixture of yellow clay and 

 sand. On this mound is au oak stump 2 feet in diameter. 



No. 21 was examined with similar results, except that in it were found 

 some snmll pieces of burned clay, flint chips, and traces of charcoal. 



No. 20 and a small tumulus west of it were found to consist wholly of 

 sandy clay. A few fragments of human bones, small pieces of pottery, 

 and some flint chips were discovered in them. 



An opening was made in the large mound No. 15 in a depression near 

 the center where the height is between 9 and 10 feet. The pit was 

 carried down to the original surface of the ground througli yellow sandy 

 clay. Nothing of interest was obtained. 



No. 32, a low mound but little more than 3 feet high, was, like most of 

 the others, built of a mixture of sand and clay. It contained human 

 bones and fragments of pottery, which were scattered irregularly through 

 it. The ground was damp and soft, and most of the bones were soft, 

 falling to pieces when any attempt was made to lift them up. We M'ere 

 umible to trace out a single complete skeleton or to find a whole vessel. 



Nos. 2!t, 30, and 31 were also exph)red, but nothing of special interest 

 was observed in them, the construction being the same aiid of similar 

 material as those already referred to. 



