362 MOUND EXPLORATIONS. 



distinct to allow of a careful ineasuremeiit before atteuiijting to remove 

 them. The length from the base of the skull to the bones of the toes 

 was found to be 7 feet 3 inches. It is probable, therefore, that this in- 

 dividual when living was fully 7J feet high. At the head lay some 

 small pieces of mica and a green substance, probably the oxide of cop- 

 per, though no ornament or article of copper was discovered. This 

 was the only burial in the mound. 



By reference to the plan of the group (Fig. 238), it will be observed 

 that Nos. 12, 13, 14, and 15 form the arc of the circle. They are regu- 

 larly spaced, the distance from the base of one to the base of the next 

 being about 100 feet. No. 11 is about 200 feet from No. 12. 



No. 14, G5 feet in diameter and 7 feet high, was next explored by cut- 

 ting a trench 12 feet wide from side to side through the center down to 

 the original soil. This was composed of hard, red clay, with here and 

 there, from the dei)th of 1 to 3 feet, a small spot of very dark earth, 

 which contained decayed mussel shells. At a depth of 3i feet, near 

 the center, lay 2 skeletons very near each other, one with the head 

 toward the east, the other with the head toward the west, with dark 

 cdlored earth and some shells packed about them. Nothing further 

 was discovered until near the bottom, where a bed of shells was 

 reached. The shells in this bed were closely packed together in the man- 

 ner of those in monud No. 12. This bed or layer was circular in out- 

 line, about 12 feet in diameter and 1 foot thick, and contained a smaller 

 proportion of dirt than that in No. 12. The layer beneath this, resting on 

 the original soil, consisted of dark colored earth in which, lying immedi- 

 ately under the center of the shell bed, were 2 skeletons. But these 

 were so far decayed that their exact position c^ould not be determined. 

 Near their heads were two arrow points, two rude c-elts, and one dis- 

 coidal stone. 



Mound 15, (54 feet in diameter and 7 feet high, presented in some 

 respects a remarkable contrast to those just described. For a depth of 

 5 feet it, like the others, consisted of hard, red clay; under this was a 

 dark layer which spread over the entire area of the mound and seemed 

 to be filled with skeletons ; in fact, the entire bottom was apparently a 

 mass of bones. All the earth above them being carefully removed, it 

 became a])parent that there was no regularity or order of burial, but 

 that the bones were heaped together in a confused mass, it being im- 

 possible to trace out the individual skeletons. Many of the bones were 

 broken and often three or four skulls piled together. They belonged to 

 l)ersons of all ages, from the young child to the aged. 



The number of persons buried here was estimated at 53, as that was 

 the number of skulls found. All must have been deposited at one time 

 and hence after the iiesh had been removed. The remains were i)robably 

 gathered from other temporary depositories and brought here to be 

 buried in one common grave. 



