278 



MOUND EXPLORATIONS. 



Pond, ISr. 75° W. Dirt for the large mound was probably taken from 

 the excavation which begins at the wall. 



The passageway or ramp that extends from the top of the large mound 

 to the ground is at the middle of the northeast side, beginning 79 feet 

 from the east corner, and on the line of the base of the mound is -iG feet 

 wide. It is 20 feet wide at the top of the mound, and extends outward 

 45 feet from the base of the mound, with the corners at the bottom so 

 rounded that they are -0 feet within the liues of the sides. 



Figs. 107 (A and P) and 168 show the sides and end of the south 

 trench ; Fig. 1C7 A, the left or west side of the trench, and F, the north 

 end; Fig. 108, the riglit or east side. In these 1 is surface soil; 2, gray 

 clay; 3, red clay; 4, red soil in lumps or masses; «, position of skull ; b, 

 position of pottery, and h, grave going a foot into the wall. 



Figs. ICi) and 170 show the sides of the northeast trench, same mound ; 

 Fig. 169, side toward northwest; and Fig. 170, side toward southeast. 

 The numbers indicate the strata as follows: No. 1, red, top soil mixed 

 with clay; 2, yellow, bluish, and gray clays and dark soil mingled in con- 

 fusion; 3, gray clay from the swamp; 1, red soil in lens-shaped masses; 

 5, dark soil in lens-shaped masses, n indicates a grave sunk in the 

 original soil to the depth of 3 feet, filled with shining gray mud and 

 containing jiart of a human skull; h and c similar pits. H, O, L, three 

 graves 5 feet above the original surface extending southward. 



Figs. 171 and 172 represent the sections of the northwest trench, same 

 mound; Fig. 171, cast side; Fig. 172, west side. The numbers indicate 

 the layers as follows: 1, top soil; 2, gray clay; 3, red clay; -i, red soil 

 in lumps or small masses; 5, black soil in lumps or small masses. 



TENNESSEE. 



LAUDERDALE COUNTY. 



On the farm of Mr. Marley, 8 miles northwest of Ripley, are a number 

 of small mounds, most of which had been dug over thoroughly. Only 



one small one remained undisturbed. 

 In this was found an old walled 

 fireplace, circular in form, 3 feet high 

 and about 1 foot thick, the inside 

 half full of ashes. Back of this (out- 

 side) was a semicircular wall, also 

 of burnt clay, 3 feet high and about 

 1 foot thick. The annexed figure 

 (174) gives an idea of the form and 

 relation of these walls. The com- 

 l)lcte circle A represents the wall 

 around the fireplace, and B the semi- 

 circularouter wall, which was on the 



FifJ. 174. — P'irephice in iiiouud. Laudt- nlalc, Tenii. 



north side and originally may have been liigher, as it reached the sur- 

 face of the ground. The little circles C C are two very smooth circular 

 appendages or lum])s of burnt clay on the wall. Close to this fireplace 

 were two broken dishes mixed with the burnt clay. 



