232 MOUND EXPLORATIONS. 



There is usu;illy sutiicieut space between tlie blufts ami the irregular 

 line of hillocks, which slope off from them to the lower bottoms, for a 

 roadway. The upper or highest portion of each hillock seems to have 

 been occupietl as a dwelling place until the accumulation of dark earth, 

 fire beds, and refuse material has reached a depth of from 2 to 10 feet, 

 which gradually thins (mt with the slope in all directions. Shafts and 

 trenches in these disclosed the fact that the material is in irregular 

 layers or patches, in which are intermingled charcoal, charred bones of 

 animals, as well as many split bones not charred, also the never absent 

 stoue chilis, rude scrapers, and other implements. Occasionally one or 

 more human skeletons are found, always beneath a fire-bed and 

 usually accompanied by pottery. These are generally in low, oblong 

 mounds, where the peculiar color of the earth indicates their presence, 

 and the uppermost ones are at a slight distance below the surface. 

 There are often two or three tiers of skeletons, apparently deposited 

 ■without any other system than simply to avoid overlapping and so as 

 to arrange them parallel with each other and at full length. 



The crania, which are not crushed, vary gi'eatly, both in size and 

 form, but are usually of the brachyc(;phalic type. Occasionally one is 

 found which shows very distinctly the effects of artificial compression 

 of the front. 



Many of the skeletons observed had only fragments of pottery by the 

 side of the cranium; some had a vessel, usually a water bottle; others 

 a cup, bowl, or other open-mouthed vessel, and, perhajis, in addition, a 

 human or animal effigy. 



Col. Norris, wliomade the explorations in this locality, says that he 

 " rarely found more than three vessels with one skeleton, and one of 

 them was always a water bottle. They were usually, but not always, 

 found in the proper position to contain water, food, or other presents 

 for the dead. I found a number of the bottles closed with stoppers 

 made of clay, some of the latter iu the form of mullers, and others 

 simply rounded off and made to fit; but no relic of any kind iu these 

 bottles; while, on the contrary, polishing stones, shells, bones of birds, 

 and red paint were frequently found in cups, basins, and other open- 

 mouthed vessels. Although so similar in general form and finish, there 

 are often such marked peculiarities in the finish, color, or ornamentation 

 of vessels of neighboring villages but a mile or two apart as to enable 

 a close observer to readily distinguish them. For instance, the Forest 

 and Priest farms extend less than 2 miles each, yet any person, by close 

 observation could soon learn to distinguish the pottery found at one 

 extremity from that obtained at the other." 



At one point the skull of a skeleton was found crushed beneath ten 

 Ijlatters, seven of which were placed edgewise above it on one side and 

 three, slightly differing iu form, on the other. Most of them, however, 

 fell to pieces on being removed. 



