NO. 15 



SMITHSONIAN EXPLORATIONS, I92I 



93 



valley. Mound groups, village sites, and burial places remain to 

 indicate the presence of a numerous people before the coming of 

 Europeans, and the innumerable objects of native origin encountered 



SCALE IN miles- 



Fig. 99. — Map showing location of mound groups. 



in the region bear evidence of their skill in working the available 

 materials. 



Immediately below the mouth of the IMissouri, on the left or 

 Illinois bank of the Mississippi, the river bluffs become more distant 

 from the stream and consequently the lowlands are in some places 

 6 or 8 miles in width from east to west. Shallow lakes covered much 



