576 MOUND EXPLORATIONS. 



mautb of the Illinois river; all of Kentucky except the extreme north- 

 eastern portion; all of middle and most of west Tennessee and a strip 

 across the northern part of Georgia; and probably that portion of nortli- 

 •ern Alabama lying north of the Tennessee river. 



There is strong evidence of an intrusive element, ©r, as appears 

 more likely, a i)receding and independent element, in the northern por- 

 tion of Kentucky and the extreme southern portion of Ohio, which area 

 should perhaps constitute a separate district, were it not for the over- 

 lapping and intermingling of types characteristic of the adjoining por- 

 tions of the ueighboring districts. 



The cfiaracteristics whi'ch distinguish the antiquities of this district 

 as a whole from those of most of the southern districts aswell as from 

 those of the more northern areas are the following: The general dis- 

 tribution and large number of stone graves herein designated the ."box- 

 shaped" type, showing that this was the usual mode of burial practiced 

 by tlie aborigines of this area, and the occurrence of certain types of 

 copper articles and engraved shells. These may be considered as the 

 peculiar features. The other characteristics, which also prevail to a 

 greater or less extent in one or more adjoining districts are the forms, 

 character, and comparative abundance of pottery, the long-necked wa- 

 ter jar being a typical variety — southeastern Missouri and eastern Ark- 

 ansas being the only rivals in this respect; the occurrence of hut rings 

 found in e(£ual abundance only in southeastern Missouri; the engraved 

 shells and shell masks of certain varieties, which seem to be confined 

 chiefly to this and the Appalachian distficts, and the scarcity of carved 

 stone pipes, which is true also as to some southern sections. As serv- 

 ing further to mark the district it may be added that here we find a 

 much larger p'roportion of pyramidal mounds than in eitherof the other 

 northern districts, though not so many as in Arkansiis; also numerous 

 iuclosures. Stone walls, stone inclosurcs, and burial caves are perhaps 

 more frequent here than in .any other area except West Virginia. 



The boundary of the district can not be well defined geographically, 

 as there is in some parts such an intermingling of forms and types, 

 and in others such gradual changes from one variety to another, as to 

 leave the investigator in doubt wh&ther to include certain areas of con- 

 siderable extent. Especiallj' is this true in regard to the western exten- 

 •sion. Therefore I have been goVerned in my decision chiefly by the 

 limits of the stone-grave area and the occurrence of certain varieties of 

 monuments which appear usually to accompany them and certain classes 

 of articles found in them. 



IXCLOSURKS. 



Iuclosures or embankments of earth abound in the central counties 

 of Tennessee, ancl while not confined exclusively to this poi-tion of the 

 state, are of more frequent occurrence here than elsewhere in the lim- 

 its of the region 'denominated " The Central or Tennessee district." 



