June 6, 1890.] 



SCIENCE. 



339 



ance. Below this was a similar bed, on and about which 

 were numerous small fragments of bones, but too much 

 broken and charred to show whether they were human or 

 animal. 



These basin-shaped beds remind us of those of similar 

 form found in the mounds of East Tennessee, and present 

 one indication of relationship between the mound-builders of 

 the two sections. 



Mound No. 18, about the same size as the preceding, con- 

 tained a similar series of basiu-shaped fire-beds, lying one 

 below the other in the central portion. Below them, near 

 the bottom of the mound, was a considerable bed of charcoal 

 and ashes; and immediately under this, on the original sur- 

 face of the ground, the fragments of a skeleton, with which 

 were a number of broken arrow and spear heads. 



Mound No. 1 of the group is of large size, measuring five 

 hundred and twenty feet in circumference and thirty-three 

 in height. This was explored by sinking a shaft twelve feet 

 square to the bottom. At the depth of from three to four 

 feet, in a bed of mixed clay and ashes, were three skeletons 

 lying extended on their backs, doubtless intrusive burials. 

 From this point downwards for twenty feet, nearly all of the 

 materia] in the shaft consisted of the same mixed substances, 

 so hard as to require the constant use of the pick. At the 

 depth of twenty-four feet there was a sudden change to a 

 much softer and darker-colored earth, in which were the 

 casts and decayed fragments of poles and logs from six to 

 twelve inches in diameter. These, together with fragments 

 of bark, ashes, and animal bones which had been split 

 lengthwise, continued through a layer of about six feet. At 

 the depth of thirty-one feet a human skeleton was discovered 

 lying prostrate, head north, the skull crushed but partly 

 preserved by contact with a sheet of copper (only fragments 

 of which remained) that probably once formed part of a 

 head-dress of some kind. By enlarging and curbing, the 

 shaft was extended to a diameter of sixteen feet. It was 

 then found that a layer of elm-bark had been carefully 

 spread, with the inner side up, upon the smoothed and well- 

 packed surface of the ground. This had been covered with 

 a layer a few inches thick of fine white ashes. On this the 

 body was laid, and covered with similar bark. 



Ten other skeletons, all buried in the same manner, were 

 found at this point, arranged, five on each side, in a semi- 

 circle around the central one just mentioned, with feet 

 turned toward it. With each skeleton on the east side of 

 the centre was a fine, apparently unused lance-head ; and by 

 the side of the northern one of these five, a fish-dart, three 

 arrow-points, and some decayed mussel-shells. Nothing was 

 found with the other five. With the central one, in addi- 

 tion to what has been mentioned, were six shell beads and a 

 large lance-head. 



But what interests us more at present is the fact that near 

 the head of the latter was a conical vault of very hard clay, 

 about four feet high and five feet in diameter. This was 

 partially filled with rotten bark, human bones, and dark, 

 decomposed matter. Immediately under this, but covered 

 with clay, were two circular holes about sixteen inches in 

 diameter, and four feet deep. A similar pair of holes was 

 found at the head of each of the ten surrounding skeletons, 

 ranging in depth from two to three feet, and in diameter 

 from eight to twelve inches. 



The little beehive vault, resembling so exactly in form and 

 size those of North Carolina, although built of clay, is an- 

 other indication of relationship between the mound-builders 

 of the two sections. On the other hand, the burial between 

 the layers of bark is precisely what is often found to be the 

 case in the Ohio mounds, as appears from the following 

 statements by Messrs. Squier and Davis in "Ancient Monu- 

 ments:" "The course of preparation for the burial seemed 

 to have been as follows: the surface of the ground was first 

 carefully levelled, and packed over an area perhaps ten or 

 fifteen feet square. This area was then covered with sheets 

 of bark, on which, in the centre, the body of the dead was 

 deposited, with a few articles of stone at its side, and a few 

 small ornaments near the head. It was then covered over 

 with another layer of bark, and the mound heaped above." 



The individual or skeleton buried in the conical vault had 

 probably been wrapped in bark. 



That there was a wooden structure of some kind covering 

 the area occupied by the skeletons is more than probable, as 

 thus only can we account for the timbers. The holes men- 

 tioned may indicate the position of a former structure, but 

 this had been removed before the burials took place. It 

 would seem that most, if not all, of the burials took place 

 at one time, and after the fiesh had been removed. 



Mound 21, known locally as the "Great Smith Mound," is 

 the largest of the group, being a regular cone, thirty-five 

 feet high, and one hundred and seventy-five feet in diameter 

 at the base. This was explored by sinking a shaft to the 

 bottom twelve feet in diameter. It is a double mound, or 

 mound of two stages. The first building carried it to the 

 height of twenty feet: after a considerable time had elapsed, 

 another stage of work carried it to its present height. Near 

 the top were some skeletons, probably intrusive burials. At 

 the depth of twelve feet the explorers began to find the frag- 

 ments and casts of logs, the first being that of a black-wal- 

 nut log, which must have been nearly twelve inches in diam- 

 eter and several feet in length. Further excavation made it 

 apparent that these timbers were the remains of a wooden 

 vault about thirteen feet long and twelve feet wide. From 

 all the indications, — the casts of the posts and logs, the bark 

 and clay lining, the fallen timbers, the bark of the roof, 

 etc., — it was inferred that the vault was constructed as fol- 

 lows: after the mound, which was at this time twenty feet 

 high, had been standing for an indefinite length of time, a 

 square pit, twelve by thirteen feet, was dug in the top to the 

 depth of .six feet; posts were then placed along the sides and 

 ends, the former reaching only to the surface, but the cen- 

 tral ones at the ends rising four feet higher; on the latter 

 was placed the ridge-pole (the walnut log first encountered) ; 

 the sides were plastered with a mixtm-e of clay and ashes, 

 and possibly lined with bark; the roof, which had fallen in, 

 was made of poles, and covered with bark; over all was 

 heaped the superincumbent mound fifteen feet in height. 



In this vault were five skeletons, one lying prostrate on 

 the floor at the centre. The other four had been placed, one 

 in each corner, apparently in an upright position. All had 

 been wrapped in bark. The central skeleton was very large, 

 measuring a little over seven feet in length. Each wrist 

 was encircled by six heavy copper bracelets. A fragment of 

 the wrapping, preserved by contact with the copper, shows 

 that it was black-walnut bark. A piece of dressed skin. 



