THOMAS.] 



TENNESSEE. 



801 



skeletouK was dark and loose, all the rest of the mound being eouiposed 

 of red flay, .so hard that we had to use the ]iick to loosen it. 



Mound 12, measured 52 feet in diameter and o feet high, and like 

 the pre(^eding consisted chiefly of red clay closely packed and very 

 hard. In the center, at the depth of 3 feet, was a horizontal layer of 

 mussel sliells about 1 foot thick, covering a circular area G feet in 

 diameter. The shells composing this layer were packed in dark-colored 



Fig. 240. — Image IVimi nidiinil No. :!. Loii^ iMliiiid, Koaue county, Ttuut-s.s 



earth and must have been carefully placed by hand, as they were in 

 tiers, all witli the concave side downward.' Underneath the layer of 

 shells the earth was very dark and appeared to be mixed with vegeta- 

 ble mold to the depth of 1 foot. At the bottom of this, resting on the 

 original surface of the ground, was a very large skeleton, Ij'ing horizon- 

 tally at full length. Although very soft, the bones were sufficiently 



• ThH same tiling, as I learn from Dr. Patrick, of Belleville. 111., was observed in a mound wbich 

 formerly stood on the site of East St. Louis. These, however, as appeared from the specimen shown 

 me, were sea shells, uuistly univalves. 



