282 MOUND EXPLORATIONS. 



upon the top only, tbe color gradually diminlsLing toward the under 

 side as though burned by long-continued tires. Tlie masses were proba- 

 bly the broken plastering of upright walls, while the other layers 

 were parts of the hard I'lay floor. Charcoal, ashes, and the charred 

 bones of animals were found with these flre-beds. 



HUT RINGS. 



With the excei^tion of a small open court south of No. 1 the entire 

 area of that portion of the inclosnre or fort upon the blufl', much of 

 the l)ottom, and also of the adjacent bluffs on the north and east, are 

 literally covered by these small, circular depressions surrounded by 

 tarthen rings, indicating a considerable population. 



Pits were dug in many of these, but only the usual fire-beds, 

 charcoal, ashes, fragments of pottery, broken animal bones, and rude 

 stone implements were found. 



EXCAVATIONS. 



The excavations for the mounds in this place are within the inclo- 

 sure and on the side of the blufl', those near mound No. 1 being as 

 clearly defined and as unmistakable as though but of recent date. 



CEMETERY. 



Mound No. 2 is said to have been once used for burial purposes, 

 but the skeletons and accompanying relics have been removed to 

 make place for graves of modern times. At d, near mound 3, was 

 found a small elevation, less than 30 feet square, whicli had not been 

 distuibed, and proved to be a true ancient cemetery. There was but 

 one tier of skeletons in it, at the depth of 2 feet from the surface. Only 

 11 were found, lying in all directions and without any apparent sys- 

 tem, except that they were not doubled upon each other. All 

 seemed to be skeletons of adults. Some vessels were with them, but 

 never more than one with a skeleton. Among the specimens discov- 

 ered here was a clay rubber or nuiller. 



Mound No. 2 is oblong, 80 by 50 feet and 5 feet high. No. 3, nearly 

 round, 50 by 40 feet and 4 feet high, was opened, but nothing was found 

 in it. No. 4, circular, 00 feet in diameter and 5 feet high, was opened 

 and fi)Hnd to be composed of yellow day and soil mixed; no relics or 

 s])ecimens in it. 



On Mhat are known as McCard's bluft's, 3 miles below O'Byam's Fort, 

 is anoth(>r group of low mounds, fire-beds, fragments of stone imple- 

 ments, broken pottery, and other evidences of an ancient village, but 

 there is no inclosing wall. 



PECULIAK CONICAL MOUNDS. 



ITere and there among the ancient works of this region are certain 

 conical mounds, sometimes in groups or irregular lines and on the high 



