26 BURIAL MOUNDS OF THE NORTHERN SECTIONS. 
comparatively limited population. In these nine mounds we notice the 
following differences: some are stratified, others not; in some the skele- 
tons are placed horizontally on the ground, in others they are in a sit- 
ting posture, while in others they are dismembered and in confused 
heaps; in some there are altar-like! structures of stone which are want- 
ing in others; in some the skeletons are covered with a hard clay or 
mortar coating which is wanting in most of them, and lastly, we see in 
one or two, evidences of the use of fire in the burial ceremonies, though 
not found in the others. 
In some respects these mounds remind us of some of the stratified 
tumuli of Wisconsin, especially those opened by Colonel Norris in She- 
boygan County, to which they bear a strong resemblance. 
In the latter part of 1882 Colonel Norris examined a group of works 
in Allamakee County, lowa, which presents some peculiarities worthy 
of notice in this connection. 
This group, which is represented in Plate I, consisting of enclosures, 
lines of small mounds, and excavations, is situated on the farm of Mr, 
H. P. Lane, about 7 miles above New Albin. It is on a bluff in one of 
the numerous bends of the Little Iowa River, the character of the 
locality indicating that it was selected as one easily defended. I shall 
at present only notice those particulars which seem to have some bear- 
ing on the character of the burial mounds and mode of interment. 
Although there are no effigy mounds in the group, the relative posi- 
tions and forms of the tumuli, as shown in the figure, and other partic- 
ulars to be noticed, leave no doubt in my mind that the works, in 
part, are to be attributed to the people who built the figure mounds 
of Wisconsin. But, as will be seen from the particulars mentioned, 
there is conclusive evidence that the locality has been occupied at dif- 
ferent times by at least two distinct tribes or peoples, differing widely 
in habits and customs. 
The largest work is an enclosure marked A in Plate I, and shown 
on an enlarged scale in Plate II. It is situated on the margin of 
a bluff overlooking the Little Iowa and an intervening bog-bayou, 
probably the former channel of the river. It is almost exactly cir- 
cular, the curve being broken on the east side, where it touches the 
brink of the bluff, being here made to conform to the line of the lat- 
ter, though probably never thrown up to the same height as the other 
portion. The ends at the southeast overlap each other for a short dis- 
tance, leaving at this point an entrance way, the only one to the en- 
closure. A ditch runs round on the inside from the entrance on the 
south to where the wall strikes the bluff on the north, but is wanting 
along the bluff and overlapping portion. The north and south diam- 
eter, measuring from outside to outside, is 277 feet; from east to west, 
‘T wish it distinctly understood that I do not, by the use of this term, commit my- 
self to the theory that these mounds or any others contain altars in the true sense 
of the term, as I very much doubt it. 
