574 . MOUND EXPLORATIONS. 



BUniAL MOVNDS. 



As the most characteristic archeologic features of the district are 

 found in the form of the burial mounds, their contents and the modes 

 of burial, reference is made to the mounds of this class first. 



They are of several difi'ei'ent types, but apparently the work of one 

 . people. • • • ' 



A tyi)e confined chiefly to Caldwell county, North Carolina, presents 

 some peculiar and interesting- features. ' In this a pit, usually circular, 

 but in one case triangular, is dug in the original sojl 30 to 40 feet in 

 diameter and to the depth of 2 to 3 feet. On the level bottom of this 

 pit the bodies (or skeletons) are placed, generally separately, some sit- 

 ting and' covered over by little beehive-shaped vaults of cobble stone, 

 others without any such covering. Some of these skeletons are in a 

 sitting posture, others IJing horizontally on the back or side. OA^er the 

 whole, dirt is thrown to fill up the pit and raise a slight mound. In 

 'some cases a number of skeletons are found together in one part of 

 the i>it. Buried with these skeletons are numerous stone pipes, polished 

 celts, engraved shells, copper beads, and small, rude discoidal stones. 

 Another feature worthy of notice is the presence, in some of these 

 mounds, of altar-shaped piles of stones. 



In one instance in east Tennessee; instead of a pit there was a circu- 

 lar stone wall some 2 or 3 feet high, the little vaults being iu this and 

 the mound built over all. 



Some of the burial mounds along the -Little Tennessee river are of 

 comparatively large size, each usually marking the' site of an ancient 

 village. In most of these was found a series of basin-shapetl fire-beds 

 placed oue above another. Scattered through the mound, excejit in 

 the lower stratum of from 2 to feet, were numerous skeletons placed 

 horizontally in varioiis directions. In some cases as many as ninety 

 skeletons have been found iu one nlound. 



Of other types we may mention ^the following as occasionally occur- 

 ring: Comparatively small mounds in which the skeletons are lying on 

 .OS near the original surface, side by side, with heads in one directiou, or 

 in two series, the heads of the two series in. different directions. In 

 some cases a mound contains a rude stone vault built up to the height 

 of 1 or 2 feet in a square' or circular form in which are the remains 

 of Cne or more individuals. A most singular type has been ot)served 

 in western North Carolina, though it can not be stated positively that 

 it was erected for burial purposes. One of these, which will illustrate 

 the type, was^ a mouud about 45 feet in diameter and feet high. In 

 the center of this, resting on the original sui'face of the ground, was a 

 conical mass of charcoal and ashes, 10 feet in diameter at the base and 

 5 feet high. The oiiter portion of this mass consisted of charcoal, evi- 

 dently the remain's of pine poles, whicli Iwid been placed in several 

 layers sloping toward the apex; the inner portion consisted of asjies 

 and coals mixed w'ith earth, in which were found some burnt human 



