42 



as in some cases for other purposes, was borne out by the score 

 examined. They are situated on headlands or points command 

 ing a view of the valley. This was further supported by the 

 fact that the two mounds first opened yielded no reward of 

 bone , implement, or trinket. They were simply heaps of earth, 

 in one case gravelly, gathered up from the surrounding area,, 

 and if they had ever been used for sepulture every trace of such 

 had ciibcippeared. Now, as articles of stone or metal were 

 usually buried with the dead the conclusion seems pretty cer- 

 tain that these mounds were "observation mounds," and noth- 

 ing more. 



A RICH MOUND. 



After meeting with the settlers at a most enjoyable picnic,, 

 the party hastened away to a headland on the north side of the 

 North Antler, where a promising looking mound remained un- 

 touched. After three or four hours' hard work the "find" was 

 gathered up and proved to be most interesting. Almost all the 

 articles found were in company with a skeleton which was 

 nearly entire. The skull presented no distinctive features, be- 

 ing rather of the dolicho-cephalic type. On account of the 

 considerable remains already in the possession of the society, 

 the skeleton was not brought away, but committed to its rest- 

 ing place again. As the skull was raised up there fell from the 

 forehead three flattened pieces of copper, each about 2 1-2 inch- 

 es long by 1 inch in width, which seem to have been a frontlet 

 fastened on the brow. A similar set of copper pieces was found 

 on another skull in another mound opened by the settlers. The 

 copper, as we see by subjecting it to the microscope, is native 

 copper simply beaten out, and judging from the streaks of sil- 

 ver visible is certainly shown to be from Take Superior. The 

 list of articles obtained from the Souris mounds and now pre- 

 sented to you is given herewith, as time forbids a minute des- 

 cription of the several articles : 



Metal — Three pieces copper frontlets. 



Pottery — Two pottery cups ; one virtually complete, the 

 other with a small portion broken. 



Organic remains — Hollow bone of bird, nine inches long, 

 cut for whistle, and discolored green by copper. Two polished 

 bones, probably crackers. Two flat bone implements with holes, 

 seemingly for some tanning process. String of bone beads, 

 nine in number, two marked. Bone conjurer's tube, with mark- 

 ings. Small bone implement with markings — purpose unknown. 

 Fragment of baculite, and specimen of Inoceramus, now much 



