456 



MOUND EXPLORATIONS. 



clear across the space in which the body or bodies had been deposited, 

 and, as each side wonld liave to be drawn in only 4 feet at the widest 

 part, the stones would have been sufficiently strong for the purpose. 

 A section of this grave restored in part is shown in Fig. 313. 



It will be seen that, altliough these graves differed widely in the con- 

 struction of the upper part, they all agreed in having a floor or pave- 

 ment of flat rocks laid upon the subsoil, upon which the body or skele- 

 ton was deposited, and that they differed materially from the box-shaped 

 stone graves. No relics of any description were found. 



Although it is going beyond the limits of the county, it may not be 

 out of place to say here that for several miles up and down the river, 

 on the opposite hills of Kentucky, gi-aves similar to the above exist in 

 great numbers; but after much search and inquiry Mr. Fowke, who 

 examined those described, failed to find a single one which had not been 

 torn up. There was formerly, according to the old settlers, a very large 

 group of them in the bottom near Dover, Kentucky, 2 miles below Riidey. 

 A milldam, a limekiln, and a long string of fence are still standing, 

 built of stones from this cemetery, which, in addition, furnished lime to 

 the people around for several years. Whether for mortuary or other 

 all this stone had been carried from the neighboring hills. 



I a ti c I, i 



Fig. 313. — Section of a aluuc yrave, liruwu cuimty, Oiiio. 



and thereis no place within the fourth of a mile wliere it could have been 

 obtained without carrying it up a steep bluff' fully 50 feet high. 



In this bottom are also several mounds, the largest 20 feet high and 

 120 feet in diameter. A smaller one close by, on being opened, disclosed 

 about half a bushel of burnt limestone rocks from 2 to 4 inches through, 

 a plate of mica, and a little charcoal. The stones were at the center, 

 about half of them sunk into the original surface; the mica and char- 

 coal about 5 feet west of the center. A number of large, flat stones were 

 placed on edge, in no definite order, about the upper part of the mound. 

 Many relics have been found on or immediately beneath the surface, 

 Avithin sight of Eipley. Every plowing or flood reveals them all along 

 the banks and, in fewer numbers, on the hills and along the creeks; 

 and though many thousand specimens have been gathered, the supply 

 seems scarcely diminished. They are mostly celts, grooved axes, round 

 stones, hammer-heads, arrowheads, and other flint weapons and pitted 

 stones. Pestles and cupped stones ai-e plentiful; nor is there a lack 

 of pottery (always broken), perforated shells, slate ornaments, and 

 hematites of different patterns. 



At the mouth of Eagle creek, near Eipley, is the site of a former vil- 



