208 



MOUND EXPLORATIONS. 



The bottdiii hiinl is a black, sticky soil, very ricb, producing tine crops 

 of cotton, com, g.u(l tobacco. Mounds 1, 2, and 3 remain uncovered 

 during overflows, the lest being- submerged to the depth of 3 or 4 feet 

 or more. Quantities of potsherds, broken stone implements, burned 

 day, bones, and arrowheads are plowed up every season iind are 

 scattered over the surface of the large mound and fields. 



]Mound No. 1, if in fact it Ije throughout an artificial structure, is long, 

 tlat-toi)ped, though not level, and irregular in form, the greatest length 

 being about flOO feet ami the greatest width about 22.5 feet. The height 



varies from 4 feet at 

 I i the northern end to 12 



I • j at the southern (see 



I j vertical section. Fig. 



12Q). 



At w (Fig. nil) there 

 is a considerable de- 

 pression, as though it 

 had not been filled up 

 at this point or had 

 been washed out, this 

 portion being raised 

 oidy 2 feet. On the 

 surface at c and d are 

 two small mounds 

 about .'5 feet high and 

 20 feet in diameter, 

 comiiosed of hard 

 clay. The soil is 

 sandy and quite 

 rich. 



Although designated a mound, this may be in part a natural forma- 

 tion, possibly the remnant of a former ridge which has been swept away 

 by the overflows; but that the height has been artificially increased at 

 the southern end can not be doubted, though permission to dig here 

 was not granted, as this dwelling and other houses were located here. 

 No. 2, near the noi'th end of No. 1, is about 110 feet in diameter and 

 18 feet high; conical and symmetrical. The surface layer proved to be 

 a sandy soil and quite diflerent from that of the woodland in which it 

 stands, which is black and sticky. Several large trees are growing on 

 the sides and near the toi). 



No. 3 is GO yards from No. 2, oval and flat on top; diameter north 

 and south, 105 feet, east and west 75 feet, and height 12 feet. 



No. 4 is about 50 yards east of No. 3, 25 feet in diameter, 3 feet high, 

 and circular. In this little mound was a mingled mass of human bones 

 in every conceivable position, covering an area of about 10 feet in 

 diiuneter. All the skulls were soft and in pieces. Among the bones 



Fitj. 11". — Ci:l^■ lioor.of a tlini.' rouiii house. 



