OF THE BUREAU OF ETHNOLOGY. XXI 
ways, basins and ditches, stone cairns, and rude stone struct- 
ures of an anomalous character. 
Although the exploration of this interesting group is far from 
complete, it is sufficient to indicate with great probability that 
the people who constructed the mounds within it built the 
Grave Creek Mound or were intimately related to the authors 
of that celebrated tumulus. Some indications also appear that 
the builders of these mounds were related to the authors of the 
ancient works of the Scioto Valley. 
Mr. Middleton was engaged during the summer and fall in 
exploring the small circular tumuli found in Southwest Wis- 
consin, usually in connection with the effigy mounds. Although 
these tumuli are mostly simple burial mounds, of the ordinary 
type, the result obtained was of much importance, as it served 
to show not only that the burial mounds opened and described 
by Dr. I. A. Lapham and Dr. P. R. Hoy were typical of the 
class throughout the effigy mound area, but that Dr. Lapham 
was justified in his conclusions in reference to the authors of 
these works. During the winter Mr. Middleton’s operations 
were confined to Arkansas. 
Mr. Thing was engaged during a few months of autumn and 
winter in exploring mounds of the southeastern counties of 
Missouri and the northeastern portion of Arkansas. The re- 
sults of the investigations made in this part of the Mississippi 
Valley will have an important bearing upon the questions re- 
lating to the objects for which the mounds were erected and 
the manner in which they were used. Many additional data 
were obtained in reference to the forms, materials, and modes 
of construction of the dwellings of the mound builders of this 
section and to the modes of burial adopted by them. The 
collection of mound pottery made in this section exceeds that 
of the previous year and is important on account of the differ- 
ent tvpes procured and the number of whole and uninjured 
vessels obtained, some of which are supposed to present true 
facial types. 
Mr. Rogan was employed for some months in exploring the 
works in Florida and in Northern Georgia. In the former the 
