GEORGIA AND ILLINOIS. 



309 



Columbian times," to suggest ai possible explanation of their presence 

 in the interior regions. I may add that these figured co^iper plates and 

 engraved shells present a problem very difficult to solve, as is evident 

 from the following facts : 



(1) A number of the designs bear too strong resemblance to those of 

 Mexico and Central America to warrant us in supposing this similarity 

 to be accidental. (2) The fact that some of them were found in con- 

 nection with articles of European manufacture is unquestionable. (3) 

 Tlie indications of European workmanship are too evident to be over- 

 looked. (■!) The evidence that some of the engraved sliells can be 

 traced to the Indians is well-nigh conclusive. 



Minnul h. — This was exaaiined by sinking a shaft 12 feet square in 

 the center to the original soil, which was reached at the depth of 19 

 feet from the top. Nothing was found indicating burials. The top 

 layer to the depth of 2 feet consisted 

 chiefly of white sand; next, 9 feet of red 

 clay; then, 2 feet more of white sand: 

 and, lastly, C feet of dark sandy loam 

 to the original surface of the ground. 



About the center of the shaft were 

 the remains of four posts, two being 

 parallel with the other two. They were 

 2 feet apart one way and G feet the 

 other; that is to say, they stood at the 

 corners of a parallelogram 2 feet wide 

 and feet long, and were in a compar- 

 atively sound condition, about G inches 

 in diameter and extended 4 feet below 

 the surface of the mound. They were 

 probaljly the remains of some compar- 

 atively modern structure. The plow 

 had taken oft' the tops to the depth of 

 several inches. In the lower sand stratum the breast bone of a turkey 

 and several boues of a bear were discovered. 



Here and there throughout the 9-foot stratum were patches of dark 

 red clay from 18 inches to 2 feet in diameter, that liad been hardened by 

 fire. The dimensions of this mound, which is in the form of a truncated 

 four-sided pyramid, quite regular and steep, are as follows: The longer 

 diameter of the base 130 feet, the shorter 120 feet; the longer diameter 

 of the level toj) 90 feet, the shorter 81 feet; the height in the center 19 

 feet, though if measured from the surrounding surface this would be in- 

 creased by 5onae 3 or 4 feet. 



Subsequently a thorough examination was made of mound </, which 

 stands about 450 yards north of the large mound and, as will be seen 

 by reference to the plat (Fig. 182), outside of and some distance beyond 

 the ditch. It is a low, conical tunudus, rounded on top, 192 feet in cir- 

 cumference at the base and 4i feet high. 



Fk;. 192. — CoppLT jjlate with bird iigure; 

 innniul near Peoria, llliiioi!^. 



