20, BURIAL MOUNDS OF THE NORTHERN SECTIONS. 
In both we observe from one to many skeletons in a place; in both we 
find them stretched out horizontally and also folded; in both we some- 
times notice evidences of fire and partially-consumed bones; in both we 
find instances where the mortar-like covering has been used, and in both 
we meet occasionally with those confused masses of bones which seem 
to have been gathered from graves or other temporary burial places 
into these mounds as common depositories. Moreover the transition 
from one to the other is so gradual as to leave us nothing save the 
position in the mound and the presence of vestiges of civilized art to 
distinguish the former from the latter. 
A large portion of these mounds, as has already been stated, are un- 
stratified, and each was probably thrown up and completed at one time; 
yet skeletons are found at various depths in some of these, as, for 
example, one opened by Mr. Middleton, in Vernon County, a vertical 
section of which is shown in Fig. 6, a a indicating the original surface 
f ype 4) 
Fic. 6.—Section of burial mound, Vernon County, Wisconsin. 

of the ground and the stars the positions of the skeletons, some of which 
were stretched out at full length while others were folded. The heads 
were towards different points of the compass and the bones of all were 
so much decayed that none could be preserved. Several instances 
of this kind were observed, in some cases those skeletons near the 
surface or top of the mound indicating burial after contact with the 
whites. 
It is apparent, therefore, that although some of the burial mounds of 
this district must be attributed to the so-called mound-builders, others 
were certainly built by the Indians found inhabiting it at the advent of 
the whites. There can scarcely be a doubt that some of the small un- 
stratified tumuli described are the work of the Indians. If this is con- 
ceded there would seem to be no halting place sliort of attributing all 
of this class in this district to the same race. 
Dr. Hoy’s statement that in some cases there was evidence that the 
bodies had been “covered with a bark or log roofing,” is in exact accord 
with a well-known burial custom of some of the tribes of the Northwest. 
According to Mr, M. B. Kent, the Sacs and Foxes, who formerly re- 
sided in the region now under consideration, buried the body “in a 
grave made about 24 feet deep, which was laid always with the head 
towards the east, the burial taking place as soon after death as possible. 
The grave was prepared by putting bark in the bottom of it before the 
corpse was deposited, a plank covering made and secured some distance 
above the body.” 
