TENNESSEE. 



381 



uoticeable tliat many of the skeletons, all of wliifli were discovered in 

 this uiii)er layer, though immediately surrounded by loose earth, had 

 directly over them a layer of thin burnt clay, usually broken up. 



A little northwest of the center of the mound, at the dei^th of 2 feet, 

 commenced a series of hearths or fire-beds of burnt clay, with layers 

 of ashes between them, jilaced one below another, much like those 

 found in the lai-ge Citico mound heretofore described. These alternate 



Fig. 258. — Plan of burials in the Big Toco iiioimd, Monroe county, Tennessee. 



beds continued down to the depth of 6 feet, increasing in diameter. 

 There were no skeletons in this series of fire-beds. (See «, Tig. 257.) 



In several of the other layers of burnt clay (not the central series) 

 were the remains of burnt stakes which had been driven into the sur- 

 face of the mound when at these respective heights and the top por- 

 tion burnt off", leaving unburnt the part in the earth. In some cases 

 these had rotted out, leaving only the impressions of the wood and bark ; 



