THOMAS] GEORGIA. 319 



shell, mica, chipped flint, and charred and decayed bones too small for 

 identification. The surface of this black mold appeared to be the origi- 

 nal surface upon which the mound was built. 



All the interments lay within the lower division of the mound. The 

 absence of burial in the upper division, the different character of the 

 earth, and the presence of fragmentary pottery (N. M.' 135278-84) 

 unlike that found in the subsoil, seems to indicate a subsequent addi- 

 tion. It also seems to indicate that the original builders or others who 

 succeeded them were disposed to utilize these their oM tombs for some 

 purpose in connection with floods, for this additional earth seems to 

 have been cast upon the mound to increase its elevation. 



It will also be seen from the sectional diagram that there were two 

 general series of interments which comprise the find, or rather the im- 

 portant contents of the mound. The lowermost of these contained 

 specimens either resting on the black mold at the bottom or within a 

 foot and a half above it, and the upper from a foot to 3 feet below the 

 line separating the two strata, or from 4 to 5 feet below the surface of 

 the mound. Fire played some part in the ceremony of burial, fiir hearth 

 remains of burnt earth and ashes were seen with each series of burials. 

 These burials were made before the subdivision was finally completed; 

 in other words, they were not intrusive, for there was no disturbance 

 of the soil above them. 



Scattered indiscriminately throughout the soil composing the upper 

 division of the mound were the following articles: One stone chisel (N. 

 M. 135271), one stone celt, eiglit small pieces of white and blue glazed 

 European crockery (N. M. 135279), many small fragments of Indian 

 ware, and five pieces of old-fashioned rudely wrought iron nails much 

 oxidized (N. M. 135280). These appeared to have been thrown up with 

 the earth in the construction of this part of the mound. 



In the subsoil the hearth A (Fig. 196, which shows a horizontal sec- 

 tion) was first discovered almost touching the line of division. It was 

 of reddish burnt earth, covered with pure wood ashes and a small quan- 

 tity of charcoal. It was 5 feet in diameter, 2 feet thick, and rested at 

 the bottom on fine sand. Adjoining it on the southeast lay a large 

 culinary pot (N. M. 135205), indicated on the diagram (Fig. 196) as No. 

 1, the rim being 10 inches below the line dividing the lower from the 

 upper strata and 3 feet 10 inches below the surface of the mound. 

 Decomposed animal matter was found in the bottom mingled with 

 scattered particles of black and white ashes. One foot and a half east 

 fiom pot No. 1, on the same level, lay another pot, 2 (N. M. 135209), 

 having inside of it another jjot (N. M. 135208). In consequence of their 

 inferior composition, badly decayed condition, and the pressure of the 

 hard superincumbent earth, these vessels were so badly injured that 

 they fell apart when taken out. Almost alongside of the last, on the 

 same level, lay another, 3 (N. M. 135211), inside of which was an 



"N. M. " in this couaection signifies "IfationaJ Moseum " ntunber. 



