18 BURIAL MOUNDS OF THE NORTHERN SECTIONS. 
It is evident that the skeletons in this mound were buried after the 
flesh had been removed, as we can on no other supposition explain the 
fact that the clay or mortar had filled the interstices between the bones, 
and that in some cases it had even penetrated into the skulls. 
Another mound, opened by Colonel Norris in the same neighborhood, 
presented some peculiarities worthy of notice, although not sufficient 
to mark it as belonging to a distinet type. 
According to his report, the southern portion had previously been ex- 
plored by Judge Branson, who found at the base some six or eight skele- 
tons lying stretched out horizontally, and covered by a dry, light-colored 
mortar which must have been spread over them while in a soft condi- 
tion, as it had run between the bones and encased them, and in some 
cases, aS in the mound just described, filled the skulls. As only the 
southern portion had been opened he removed the remainder. The dried 
mortar-like substance was very hard and difficult to dig through, but the 
pick soon struck some rough, flat limestone rocks which proved to be 
parts of a rude wall about 3 feet high and 8 feet long, built on the nat- 
ural surface of the ground. In the opposite side of the mound, 12 feet 
distant from and parallel with it, was another similar wall. Between 
them and on the natural surface of the ground, side by side, were a 
number of skeletons lying flat and lengthwise and parallel with the 
walls. A vertical section of this mound is shown in Fig. 5. The lit- 

Fic. 5.—Section of burial mound, Crawford County, Wisconsin. 
tle circles at the bottom between the walls indicate the heads of the 
skeletons; No. 4, the layer of mortar over the bones; 3, a layer of hard 
clay mixed with ashes; 2, a layer of clay; and 1, the top covering of 
sand and soil about 18 inches thick. Before being disturbed this mound 
was 39 feet in diameter and 6 feet high. 
As it is evident that the burials in this case were made at one time, 
aud as the mortar-like substance had run into the interstices, it is more 
than probable that the skeletons were deposited after the flesh had been 
removed. 
The following description of a mound with a single original and sev- 
eral intrusive burials is also taken from Colonel Norris’ notes of work 
in Crawford County: 
One large mound of this group, 70 feet in diameter and 10 feet high, 
still unexplored, was opened. It had been considerably defaced, espe- 
cially on the west side. According to tradition it was a noted burial 
place with the Indians, which was certainly confirmed by the result. 
ee. 
