Thomas.] 



TENNESSEE. 



379 



in the figure. Tlie bottom of tlie iiu-losuic, 'wliich corresponded witli 

 the original .surface of tlie ground, was covereil for au inch or two with 

 coals and ashes, on which the skulls and other bones rested. But 

 neither coal nor ashes were found outside of the wall. All the skeletons 

 and other remains outside of the wall lay a foot or more above the 

 original surface of the ground. 



The following articles were obtained from tliis mound : With skeleton 

 No. 4, 1 ornamented pot; with No. 1, 1 polished stone ornament, 1 

 stone pipe, 7 arrowheads, a small lot of copper beads, 1 shell gorget, 

 2 perforated shells, and the fragment of a bone implement. The skulls 

 of Nos. 1 and 7 were saved. 



As there are evidences about the McGee mound, on the south side of 

 the river, of a somewhat extensive ancient village, and the locality cor- 

 responds exactly with the site of Ghote, the "metropolis" and sacred 



Fni. 256 Plat of the TiicoTuounds, Monroe county, Tennessee. 



town of the Overhill Cherokees, there can be scarcely a doubt that the 

 remains found here pertain to that town. Mound No. 1, on the north 

 side of the river, is near the point where Timberlake locates an old fort 

 built by Virginians. It was not examined. 



The mound and village site marked No. (5 on PI. xxv, immediately 

 below the preceding, are at the point where Timberlake locates the lit- 

 tle town Tennessee, which gives a name to a great river and an impor- 

 tant state of the Union. 



THK TOCI) MOINDS. 



Continuing our course down the Little Tennessee, we come next to 

 the Toco mounds, partly on the lands of Mr. J. L. Johnson and Mr. Cal- 

 laway, south of the river and just above the mouth of Toco creek and 

 partly below the mouth of the creek. These mounds are arranged in 

 two groups, one consisting of five mounds, situated above Toco creek, 



