50 BURIAL MOUNDS OF THE NORTHERN SECTIONS. 
was found; at the feet were ten stones or small bowlders, such as are common in the 
drift gravel. It is evident that this interesting tumulus was erected over the grave 
which was dug in the underlying gravel, and that the human bones placed in the 
burnt mass above the grave, with the few stone implements found in or on the mass, 
had some connection with the funeral ceremonies which took place in connection with 
the burial of the body in the pit below. The regularity of the deposits over the pit, 
which was under the center of the mound, seems to be sufficient proof of this. 
Another mound, nearer the river, situated on an elevated portion of 
bottom land, was found to differ in construction from any of the others 
explored in this vicinity. This is described as follows: ! 
According to Mr. William Edwards, sixty years ago it was about 9 feet high, and 
coyered by a heavy forest growth, which also extended over the region about. Over 
fifty years ago the land was cleared and the mound scraped down by Mr. Edwards, who, 
after removing about 4 feet of earth from its summit, came to a large quantity of stones, 
with which were many human bones. Since that time the mound has been plowed 
over and stones have been taken from it until it has been so nearly leveled as hardly 
to be noticed. Thus only the base of the mound could be explored; but that has 
proved of great interest in connection with the other works of the valley. On remoy- 
ing the earth around the base it was found that stones, many of considerable size, 
had been so arranged as to form a mound about 5 feet high in the center and 90 feet 
in diameter, over which the earth had been placed to the height of about 4 feet, as 
stated by Mr. Edwards. In height about one-half of the stone portion of the mound 
was undisturbed. On removing the outer covering of stones it was found that many 
burials, probably at least one hundred, had been made in the mound, The remains 
of seventy-one skeletons were obtained. These skeletons were all more or less crushed 
by the stones which surrounded them, as, in addition to the outer stones of the mound, 
each body had been surrounded with stones at the time of its burial. In many in- 
stances large slabs of limestone had been used, and in a few cases they were set on 
edge around the body. In other cases small stones had been piled around and over 
the bodies, which had been placed in various positions, some extended and others flexed 
in various ways. With many of the skeletons were stone implements and ornaments, 
among which were several of the flat stones with two or more perforations, generally 
known as gorgets. There were also many bone implements, shell and bone orna- 
ments, and cut teeth of bears. Several small copper awlsin bone handles, and the 
shells of box-turtles, were also found with the skeletons. Many fragments of pottery 
and broken bones of animals were scattered through the mass of stones and human 
bones. At the feet of the skeleton, in the center of the mound, there was an upright 
slab of limestone 2 feet long by 20 inches wide, and with this skeleton were the fol- 
lowing objects: Resting on the chest was a large ornament made from the apex of a 
conch shell, with a hole at one edge for suspension; below this, on the ribs, was a 
spear-shaped gorget, with one hole, and by its side were several shell ornaments, also 
perforated. Lying near the right femur and parallel with it was a carved bone, 
grooved on the under side and having two holes; between this and the leg bone were 
four small pieces of caryed bone about an inch in length. In the bones of the right 
hand was a small awl made of native copper and inserted in a little round handle 
made of bone, similar to others found with other skeletons in the mound. At the 
south side of the mound, on the original surface, was a burnt space, on which was a 
large quantity, several bushels, of broken bones of animals, clam shells, and fragments 
of pottery mixed with ashes. This mass seems to have existed before the mound was 
made, or at all events completed, as five of the burials had taken place above it. On 
the plain about the mound are evidences of the site of a former village, and the annual 

