74 BURIAL MOUNDS OF THE NORTHERN SECTIONS. 
somewhat in a circle. The doctor does not state whether there was a 
pit. 
Some mounds in Henderson County, opened in 1884 by Mr. J. W. 
Emmert, who was temporarily employed by the Bureau, present some 
peculiarities worthy of notice. One of these, situated on the farm of 
Mrs. Rebecca Conner, and perfectly circular, was found to be 44 feet in 
diameter and 6 feet high; a number of small trees were growing on it. 
The annexed cut (Fig. 35) shows a vertical section of it, the dark cen. 

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Fic. 35.—Section of mound, Henderson County, North Carolina, 


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tral triangle representing a conical mass of charcoal and ashes. The 
conical mass measured 16 feet in diameter at the base and 5 feet high, 
the top reaching within 1 foot of the top of the mound, The outer por- 
tion consisted of charcoal, evidently the remains of pine poles, which 
had been placed in several layers, sloping toward the apex. The inner 
portion consisted of ashes and coals mixed with earth, m which were 
found some burnt human (?) bones, and some accompanying articles, 
among which were two stones with holes drilled through them. The 
fragments of bones and the specimens were at the base, in the center. 
A mound on the farm of Mr. J. B. Alexander, 2 miles above the one 
just described, was examined by Mr. Emmert, and found to cover a pit 
similar to those explored in Caldwell County, 
This mound was situated on an elevated level, about a quarter of a 
mile from the creek, in an old field which had been plowed over for sixty 
years. It was 2 feet high when he explored it, but the old people stated 
to him that it was formerly 10 feet high, and had a ‘‘tail” or ridge run. 
ning away from it 200 feet long ; but the only indication of this that Mr, 
Emmert could see was a strip of clay running off where it was stated 
to have been. It runs in the direction of the creek bottom, where any 
quantity of broken pottery may be picked up. The mound, which was 
30 feet In diameter and composed wholly of red clay, was entirely re- 
moved to the original surface of the ground. Nothing was found in it, 
but after reaching the surface he discovered a circular pit 12 feet in 
diameter, which had been dug to the depth of 4 feet in the solid red clay. 
This he found to be filled full of ashes and charcoal, but failed to find 
any bones or specimens in it. 
Although Mr. Emmert failed to find any evidence that this was a 
burial mound, its similarity with those of Caldwell County will, I think, 
justify us in concluding it was constructed for this purpose. 
