560 MOUND EXPLORATIONS. 



of the skoletons found were various aud the uumber of intrusive burials 

 unusually largo. The peculiarity observed was that in a number where 

 there were intrusive burials near the surface no skeletons, or but the 

 slightest fragments of bones of the original burial below the hard, un- 

 disturbed layer, could be found, although there were clear indications 

 that the mounds were built and had apparently been used for general 

 interment. 



As yet but comparatively few cemeteries, or burials nut in mounds, 

 have been discovered, although they are quite common in southern 

 Illinois, which, for reasons hereafter given, is included in the Tennessee 

 district. In the latter, however, the bodies are usually iuclosed in 

 stone graves, which is very rarely the case with those in the northern 

 part of the state. In some graves discovered on the gravelly point of 

 a lidge in Lasalle county, among the relics found were riide stone pipes, 

 shell beads, and a clay vessel made to represent a squatting human 

 tigure. Image pottery of this type is quite common in southern Illinois 

 and soutlieastern Missouri, but is exceedingly rare in the northern part 

 of the state, or in fact in any part of the district. 



Although as a general rule the conical mounds of this district are 

 burial tumuli, yet there is a class found in considerable numbers at 

 certain points which appear to have been intended simply as dwelling 

 sites. Some of these have already been noticed. Others are found 

 along tiie Mississippi in its course between Iowa and Illinois. They 

 are small, varying from 15 to 50 feet in diameter and from 1 to 3 or 4 

 feet in height, flattish on top. They are always in groups, occasion- 

 ally of considerable extent. Excavations have revealed beds of burnt 

 clay and ashes aud a few burnt stones. It must be remarked, however, 

 that the tumuli of this type found in northern Illinois appear in several 

 cases, judging by the accompanying works, to be attributable to the 

 authors of the effigy mounds. Those last mentioned are found chiefly 

 in Mercer, Whitesides, aud Eock Island counties. 



In this district are found also hut-rings or lodge sites marking the 

 locations of ancient villages. These however arc not in so great num- 

 bers as in the district immediately south, yet they are discovered oc- 

 casionally from western Iowa to eastern Indiana, thus extending over 

 an area that must have been occupied in prehistoric times bj' several 

 difl'crent tribes. 



True i)yramidal mounds are of rare occiurence in tlie district; be- 

 sides those mentioned, two or three have been observed in western 

 Illinois, one in Iowa, and one or two in the central part of Missouri, 

 though it is doubtful whether the last mentioned should be included iu 

 this district. 



Tliere are but few iiu'losures, the most important l)eing those in Alla- 

 makee county, Iowa, described in the preceding partof this volume, aud 

 also in the Fifth Annual Report of theBureau. On the bauks of Fox 

 river, in La Salle county. Illinois, there is an irregularly semicircular wall 



