MOUND BURIAL— MISSOURI. 17 



BURIAL IN MOUNDS. 



In view of the fact that the subject of rnound-burial is so extensive, 

 and that in all probability a volume by a member of the Bureau of Eth- 

 nology may shortly be published, it is not deemed advisable to devote any 

 considerable space to it in this paper, but a few interesting examples may 

 be noted to serve as indications to future observers. 



The first to which attention is directed is interesting' as resembling cist- 

 burial combined with deposition in mounds. The communication is from 

 Prof. F. W. Putnam, curator of the Peabody Museum of Archaeology, Cam- 

 bridge, made to the Boston Society of Natural History, and is published in 

 volume XX of its proceedings, October 15, 1878: 



" * * * He then stated that it would be of interest to the mem- 

 bers, in connection with the discovery of dolmens in Japan, as described 

 by Professor Morse, to know that within twenty-four hours there had been 

 received at the Peabody Museum a small collection of articles taken from 

 rude dolmens (or chambered barrows, as they would be called in England), 

 recently opened by Mr. E. Curtiss, who is now engaged, under his direc- 

 tion, in exploration for the Peabody Museum. 



" These chambered mounds are situated in the eastern part of Clay 

 County, Missouri, and form a large group on both sides of the Missouri 

 River. The chambers are, in the three opened by Mr. Curtiss, about 8 

 feet square, and from A\ to 5 feet high, each chamber having a passage- 

 way several feet in length and 2 in width leading from the southern side 

 and opening on the edge of the mound formed by covering the chamber 

 and passage-way with earth. The walls of the chambered passages were 

 about 2 feet thick, vertical, and well made of stones, which were evenly 

 laid without clay or mortar of any kind. The top of one of the chambers 

 had a covering of large, flat rocks, but the others seem to have been closed 

 over with wood. The chambers were filled with clay which had been 

 burnt, and appeared as if it had fallen in from above. The inside walls of 

 the chambers also showed signs of fire. Under the burnt clay, in each 

 chamber, were found the remains of several human skeletons, all of which 

 had been burnt to such an extent as to leave but small fragments of the 



bones, which were mixed with the ashes and charcoal. Mr. Curtiss thought 

 2 Y 



