334 



MOUND EXl'hORATIONS. 



past, was located on the farm of Rev. T. F. Nelson, in the northwest 

 part of the county, and about a mile and a half southeast of Patterson. 

 It stood on the bottom land of the Yadkin, about 100 yards from the 

 river, and was almost a true circle in outline, 38 feet in diameter, but 

 not exceeding at any jjoint 18 inches in height. The thorough excava- 

 tion made, in which Mr. Eogan, the Bureau agent, was assisted by Dr. 

 J. M. Spainhour, of Lenoir, showed that the original constructors had 







imnil' 





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 I 



lirst dug a circular pit about 38 feet in diameter to the depth of 3 feet 

 and there placed the dead, some in stone cists and others uuinclosed, 

 and afterwards covered them over, raising a slight mound above the pit. 

 A plan of the pit, showing the stone graves and skeltitons as they ap- 

 peared after the removal of the dirt and before being disturbed, is 

 given in Fig. 207. 



