78 BURIAL MOUNDS OF THE NORTHERN SECTIONS. 
into a pit not exceeding 3 feetin length. One of the skulls is of especial interest, as 
possibly indicating that the remains are those of victoms immolated in some sacri- 
ficial or burialrites. The side was crushed in, asif with aclub. I have connected 
together the pieces of the upper jaw so that they retain the position in which they 
were found, a position which cannot with probability be supposed to be the result 
of the settling of the earth around it, if unbroken when buried. The bones of the 
bodies, although so friable that they could not be preserved, were entire, in positions 
indicating that the bodies had not been dismembered and forbidding the supposition 
that they were the remains of a cannibal feast. 
The excavation was carried forward as indicated on the plat and on a level with 
the location of the skeletons first fuund. It became evident at once that the material 
of which the mound was constructed was taken from the immediate neighborhood, 
it being composed of the same alluvial soil, full of the shells found on the surface, but in 
amuch betterstate of preservation; but no arrow-heads, chippings of flints, or frag- 
ments of pottery now covering the surface were found. These would have been abun- 
dant if the mound had been erected subsequent to the manufacture of the pottery and 
arrow-heads at that place. Single fragments of pottery were found, but these were 
painted and of much better quality than those found on the surface. 
The mound was composed of alternate layers of earth and ashes, showing that a 
surface of the size of the top, when finished, was kept substantially level, and raised only 
2 to 3 feet at a time, when fires were kindled, which must have been large or con- 
tinued for.along time, as the amount of the ashes and charcoal abundantly indicates, 
Near the center of the mound rows of stake-holes were found, as far as followed, 
marking two sides of a rectangular parallelogram, which continued would have 
formed an enclosure around the center. In some of these were the remains of the 
wood and bark, not enough to show the marks of tools, if any had been used. They 
pevetrated the natural surface of the ground to the depth of about 2 feet. 
Here and at about the same level as at No. 1 were found the skeletons of which 
the skull bones and other parts are marked No.2. They were apparently the remains 
of a youngish woman and two children, all so far decomposed that only the parts sent 
could be preserved. The larger skeleton was in such a position as a person would 
take on kneeling down, then sitting upon the feet ; the hands were brought to the head 
and the body doubled down upon the knees. The head was toward the south. The 
remains of the children were found at the right side of this body, the bones mingled 
together. f 
About 2feet directly under these the skeleton of which the skull is marked No. 3 
was found, in a similar position, it is said (I was not present when it was taken out), 
with the one above it. 
I attempt no description and indulge in no speculations in regard to these remains, 
as I have decided to forward them to you for the examination of those who can com- 
pare them with other skulls and are better qualified to make a proper use of them. 
They are unquestionably of the age of the mound-builders. 
We are reminded, by the remains of upright timbers found here, of the 
wooden yaults of the Grave Creek and other mounds of West Virginia, 
but in the form of the mound we have an indication that it belongs to 
the southern class of ancient works. 
Rey. H. O. Dunning mentions! a stone-grave mound which he exam- 
ined inthe valley of the Little Tennessee. Speaking of this mound he 
remarks: 
I did not expect to find rock graves in a mound of earth, but after clearing away 
rubbish and penetrating 6 feet below the top, near the center the workman struck a 
slab of slate, which proved to be part of the covering of astone tomb. It was much like 
1 Smithsonian Report 1870, p. 378. 

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