THOMAS.] WEST VIRGINIA. 427 



inches; thickuess, about oii«-eiglitli of an inch. It had been hammered 

 into shape apparently from native copper. By each hand of tlii.s giant 

 frame were three unused black flint lance heads; near the right hand, 

 a small hematite celt and part of an axe of the same material, the latter 

 bearing evidence of usage. Around the head, neck, and hips were 

 about one hundred small perforated sea shells and thirty-two shell 

 beads. Upon the left shoulder, one upon another, were three sheets 

 of mica, from 8 to 10 inches long, 6 to 7 wide, and half an inch thick. 



Eemoving the rotten timbers and bark, and loose dry earth, the size 

 and character of the vault were ascertained. Four adult skeletfms of 

 medium size, one in each corner of the vault, were found, besides the 

 two described. They seemed to have been wrapped in bark, and placed 

 leaning against the sides of the vault in a nearly erect position, with 

 faces inward. The vault was nearly square, 13 feet long and 13 wide, 

 inside measurements. 



From all the indications, the casts of posts and logs, the bark and 

 clay lining, fallen timbers, bark of the roof, etc., it is presumed tliat 

 the vault was constructed as follows : After the mound, which at this 

 stage was 20 feet high, had been 

 standing for an indefinite length of 

 time, a square pit 12 by 13 feet was 

 dug in the top to the depth of G feet; 

 posts were placed along the sides 

 and ends, the former reaching only 

 to the surface, but the central ones, 

 at the ends, rising 4 feet higher; on 

 these latter was placed the ridge- r'o-3ui.-st>;atit.i.iiKiioiu fcuu.«hai,nmty. 



pole(the walnut log first discovered). 



The sides were plastered with a mixture of clay and ashes and possibly 

 lined with bark ; the roof was covered with poles and bark. Over all 

 was heaped the superincumbent mound 1.5 feet in height. On top of 

 this was built, perhaps at a far more recent date, the stone cairn. 



With each of the four skeletons in the corners were several arrow 

 and lance heads, 1 fish dart, and a few shell beads. Scattered through 

 the material iu the vault were several other articles. The entire list of 

 specimens found, including those already mentioned, is as follows: 1 

 copper gorget (shown in Fig. 300); 16 copper bracelets (see Fig. 299); 

 1 steatite pipe (shown in Fig, 301); 2 stone disks, 2 hematite celts, 3 

 sheets of mica, 55 spear and ari-ow points, 1 flint knife, 1 stone pestle, 

 8 polished celts, 2 small hemispheres of hematite or meteoric iron ; a 

 number of perforated shells and shell beads. 



After carefully curbing the opening made iu tracing out the vault, 

 work was begun again ou the shaft, the material now being a hard 

 grayish substance similar to the lining of the vault. A short distance 

 below was a compact mass of dark clay flecked with the yellowish casts 

 and streaks of decayed bones, some of them evidently split as iu 

 kitchen-middens. This continued to the depth of 30 feet, where the 



