12 BURIAL MOUNDS OF THE NORTHERN SECTIONS. 
around them. As we move farther southward into Arkansas the house- 
sites change into low circular mounds, usually from 1 to 3 feet in height, 
and in nearly every instance containing a layer of clay (often burned) 
and ashes. 
These small mounds, which are clearly shown to have been house- 
sites, were also burial places. It appears to have been a very common 
custom in this section to bury the dead in the floor, burn the dwelling 
over them, and cover the whole with dirt, the last operation often taking 
place while the embers were yet smouldering. Burial in graves was 
also practiced to a considerable extent. As we approach the Arkansas 
River, moving southward and from thence into Louisiana, the pottery 
shows a decided improvement in character and ornamentation. 
(8) The Gulf district, including the Gulf States east of the Mississippi. 
The works of this section appear to be closely allied to those of the 
Lower Mississippi district, as here we also find the large flat-topped 
pyramidal mounds, enclosing walls, and surrounding ditches and canals. 
The chief differences are to be found in the forms and ornamenta- 
tion of the pottery and modes of burial. 
AS we approach the Mississippi River the distinguishing features 
gradually disappear, although there appears to be a distinet subdis- 
trict in the northern part of Mississippi, and as we enter the Florida 
peninsula a change is observed which appears to indicate a different 
people, but the data so far obtained are not sufficient to enable us to 
outline the subdistricts. 
This districting is to be regarded as a working hypothesis rather than 
as a settled conclusion which will stand the test of future investiga- 
tions. It is more than likely that other subdivisions will be found 
necessary, and that the boundaries of some of the districts given will 
have to be more or less modified ; still, I believe the arrangement will be 
found substantially correct. 
Asa very general and almost universal rule, mounds of the class 
under consideration are more or less conical in form, and are common 
to all sectious where earthworks are known to exist, in fact they form 
almost the only ancient remains of some localities. Often they are iso- 
lated, with no other monuments near them, but more frequently they 
occur in groups or are associated with other works. Squier and Davis 
say ‘they are generally of considerable size, varying from 6 to 80 feet 
in height, but having an average of from 15 to 25 feet.”! 
This is probably true in regard to the mounds explored by these arche- 
ologists in Ohio, but is erroneous if applied generally ; as very many, 
evidently used and intended as burying places only, are but two or three 
feet high, and so far as the more recent examinations made in other 
sections — especially the explorations carried on under the Bureau of 
E eeu olaeyy —have shown, tumuli of this character are aueually from 3 to 

Neon Nene p- 161. 
