404 MOUND EXPLORATIONS. 



the brow or highest point of the ridge, where it breaks off toward the 

 Little Tennessee. The body of the mound consisted of red clay, except 

 immediately iu the center, where there was a circular bed about 6 feet 

 in diameter, of darker colored earth, which was quite loose, the other 

 part of the mound beinc very hard. This loose earth did not cease at 

 the original surface of the ground, but continued downward to the 

 depth of 4 feet; the pit into which it extended was circular and at the 

 bottom were the remains of a single skeleton. With these remains 

 were a Hue steatite pipe, one large spearhead, seven arrowheads, one 

 long polished st(me, and some red and black paint. 



Nos. 5 and (i were opened and found to consist as usual of red clay 

 with a few human bones in each. 



Nos. 7, S, and 9 had been examined previously. 



Want of time prevented any further examination during this visit of 

 this interesting group. Subsequently some other mounds not desig- 

 nated on the plat were examined. 



One of these, lying between the Little Tennessee and Holston, near 

 their junction and connected witli a group of three, measured 38 feet in 

 diameter and feet in height. It was surrounded on the east and west 

 by depressions from wliich it is probable the earth was taken to form 

 it. Two large black-oak trees were growing on it. At the depth of 

 1 foot a small pile of humau bones was discovered. These were all 

 broken, and had evidently been placed here after the tlesh was removed. 

 The entire mound was composed of red clay and contained nothing of 

 interest. 



There are two mounds on top of ajiigh bluff in what is known as Hall's 

 bend, on the south side of the Tennessee river, opposite Lenoirs island 

 (Nos. 15 and 10, Fig. 276). One of these, 26 feet in diameter and 3 feet 

 high, and surrounded by a ditch about a foot in depth, was explored. 

 A foot below the top a layer of tiat stones extending over the mound 

 was reached. Below this the remainder, to the bottom, consisted of dark 

 soil. A circular pit 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet deep extended into 

 the native soil; in this were two adult skeletons in a sitting posture, 

 side by side, pressed closely one against the other in consequence of 

 the small space. At the head of one was a tine marble pipe, and at the 

 bottom among the leg bones of the skeletons were several rude arrow 

 points. The earth in the pit was very dark and unctuous. 



MEIGS COUNTY. 

 THE M'^ANDREWS MOUNDS. 



This little group, consisting of l>ut two mounds, is on tlic farm of Mr. 

 Josejih McAndrews, in the southwestern part of the county, 1 mile from 

 Brittsville, and stands on the terrace or uxtland bordering the river bot- 

 tom. 



Mound 1, which stands a short distance from a creek, is elliptical in 



