THOMAS] WEST VIRGINIA. 431 



Their averajje capacity was between 1 aud 2 bushels, and all were par- 

 tiallj' lilled with mottled dust. The interior was perfectly dry. Be- 

 neath the south edge of the southern fire bed was a vault 3 feet long, 

 2 feet wide, aud 2 feet high; this and a smaller one a foot east of it con- 

 tained mottled dust as usual. Six feet above and somewhat west of 

 this fire-bed, in what seemed to be the remains of a bark coflin, was a 

 streak of bright red paint, which crumbled to fragments with the bark. 



Mouud 24, situated west of mound 23, measuring about 100 feet in 

 diameter and 4 feet high, was thoroughly exph)red aud found to consist 

 cliiefly of hard gray material. Near the center, on the natural surface, 

 was a bed of charcoal and ashes in which were charred bones, both ani- 

 mal and human, and with them a few spear-heads. 



Mound 25, a short distance northeast of mouud 23, measured 95 feet in 

 diameter and 8 feet high. At the bottom, uear the center, were the traces 

 of a skeleton, and with it eight rather slender copper bracelets, much 

 corroded. These were evidently made of drawn wire and indicate con- 

 tact with Europeans. They had been wrapped in some kind of textile 

 fabric, the threads of which were plainly visible. As they were of smaller 

 size than the others found in this locality, of which mention has been 

 made, it is presumed that they belonged to a female who was buried here. 



Mound 2(3. This small tumulus, 35 feet in diameter and scarcely 4 

 feet in height, is near the northwest side of mouud 21. It was composed 

 throughout of a mingled mass of charcoal, ashes, black earth, and 

 charred bones. 



Mouud 27, a short distance north of mound 21, measured 84 feet in 

 diameter aud (5 feet in height. Near the center, 1 foot from the top, a 

 small copper bracelet was found, but a thorough excavation failed to 

 reveal any trace of burial or anything else of interest. 



Mouud 28 is 300 feet in circumference aud 23 feet high. Permission 

 to explore this could not be obtained. 



Mound 20, 40 feet in diameter and 4 feet high, was thoroughly ex- 

 plored and nothing but coals and ashes found in it. 



Mound 30, 300 feet in circumference aud 21 feet high, was 25 feet 

 across the somewhat depressed top. Near the top were the remains of 

 a stone grave containing a nearly decayed human skeleton, probably 

 an intrusive burial. A circular shaft 12 feet in diameter was sunk to 

 the bottom through uniformly dark, alluvial soil like that around the 

 mound; only rotten wood and bark with casts of timbers were found. 

 Upon the well-smoothed natural surface were evident traces of a bark 

 floor covered by a layer of clean, white ashes, containing traces of 

 bones. Excavations in the natural earth revealed a circle, 12 feet in 

 diameter, of vaults about 3 feet broad and the same in height, similar 

 to those mentioned, placed very close together and filled with mud. 

 This mound was not completely explored on account of the water. The 

 rotten wood and bark, with casts of timbers, were probably the remains 

 of a wooden vault. 



