19^ 



MOUND EXPLORATIONS. 



The excavation coniiectiiig witli the diteli near tlic sontliwest corner 

 (o) is about 150 feet long-, 100 feet wide and l.") feet deep at the lowest 

 jjoint. The excavation at the northwest corner {b) is somewhat longer, 

 rather narrower, and not ((uite so deej), but both always contain Avater. 

 The four niounds in the inclosure are located as indicated at 1, 2, 3 

 and 4, No. 1, whi(;h is the largest, l)eing nearly 150 feet long, north and 

 south, 120 feet broad at base, and 20 feet liigh. The 

 length and width liavc evidently been increased and 

 the lieight lowered by the continued cultivation of 

 fifty years. A thorough examination of this was 

 made and the construction found to be somewhat 

 ])eculiar, as will lie seen by reference to Fig. 10!t, 

 which sliows a vertical section through the length. 

 ~ The bottom layer (1) is a circuhir platform about 

 i 100 feet in ili:imeter and 2 feet high, formed of yel- 

 S low sand similar to the original surface beneath and 

 i around it. 



1 The next layer, marked 2, is only 6 inches thick 

 t and consists of dark blue, adhesive dav, or muck, 

 K from the swamj); which has become very hard. It 

 z was strewn AvitU burnt earth, charcoal, ashes, frag- 

 «: mcnts of split bones and pottery, stone chips and 

 I I'nio shells. The next layer (3) is 8 feet thick at the 

 ^ central ])oint of what appears to have been the orig- 

 i inal mound, of which it was the top stratum. But 

 5 it is not uniform, and, although showing no distinct 

 - strata, was not all forme<l at one time, as in it tliei'e 

 I were, at different dejjths, at least three distinct fire- 

 I beds of burnt earth and heavy aceunuilations of 

 I ashes, charcoal, and charred animal btmes. 

 ~ In this layer, a little south ol' the center, were 

 I found the charred fragments of long poles and small 

 logs, all lying horizontally, and also a post («), prob- 

 ably of locust wood, inches in iliameter and 5 feet 

 long, still erect, but the upiier end shortened by fire 

 and the lower end haggled off by some rude imple- 

 ment. 



The layer marked 4 is an addition to the original 

 plan. At this stage the occupants or builders, for 

 some reason, made an addition to the origimil mound, extending it 

 northward some 40 feet, apparently in this wise: the h)wer layer was 

 built ou the north end precisely as in the original mound and of the 

 same height; then the layer corresponding to No. 2 of the original 

 mound, which is No. 4 in the figure, was bnilt up of bluish clay irregu- 

 larly mixed with fire-beds, ashes, charcoal, yellow sand, and calcined 

 boues to the height of No. 3 and somewhat overtopping it. Having 



