NO. 6 SMITHSONIAN EXPLORATIONS, I92O II3 



of about 79, and evidently are the same type as the one which 

 formerly occupied the Mississippi Valley, thus confirming the results 

 of Dr. Boas, announced in 1895. The general grammatical prin- 

 ciples which have been worked out for Fox apply also to Cree. 

 In some respects Cree is more archaic than Fox, in others less so. 

 Ethnologically the Plains Cree are about half way between more 

 typical Indians of the Plains, such as the Black feet, and the Central 

 Algonquins. An analysis of the myths and tales which cluster around 

 the culture hero shows that we practically have the myths and tales of 

 the culture heroes of the Blackfeet and Ojibwa combined. All this 

 is just what one would expect from the geographical position of the 

 Plains Cree. 



ARCHEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS IN TENNESSEE 

 Mr. W. E. Myer, of Nashville, Tenn., spent September and 

 October, 1920, making explorations for the Bureau of American 

 Ethnology in the Cumberland Valley around Nashville. He dis- 

 covered on the H. L. Gordon farm, one mile northeast of Brentwood, 

 in Davidson County, the remains of an ancient Indian walled town. 

 These were situated in a woodland and had never been disturbed by 

 the plow. Their partial exploration brought to light some new and 

 interesting details of the life of the inhabitants. Traces of 87 house 

 circles and faint indications of several more could be made out. This 

 town covered 11. 2 acres and was surrovmded by an earthen embank- 

 ment which formerly supported a palisaded wall, equipped with 

 circular towers every 55 feet. 



The ancient inhabitants, for some unknown reason, had deserted 

 this village and the site had never afterward been occupied or dis- 

 turl:)ed. The deserted structures had gradually fallen down and the 

 remains slowly buried under from 10 to 14 inches of earthmold. In 

 some of these circles portions of beautiful, smooth, hard-packed, 

 glossy-black floors were found. In the centers were the ancient fire- 

 bowls, yet filled with the ashes of the last fires kindled in these homes 

 before their owners left them forever. Near these fire-bowls often 

 could be seen the metates, mullers and other household utensils, just 

 as left the last time used. Underneath the floors were the stone slab 

 graves of the little children, one of which is shown in figures 128 

 and 129. 



A level open space was found near the center of the town and on 

 the western side of this plaza was a low flat-top mound that had 

 originally supported some important building. Adjoining this mound 



