44 ■ ANTIQUITIES OF WISCONSIN. 



bones, &c. Fragments of pottery are also found in the same connection. The walls 

 and mounds are composed of a light colored clay, which becomes red on being 

 slightly burned. 



From all the facts observed, it is likely that clay was mixed with the straw, 

 and made into some coarse kind of envelope or covering, for sacrifices about to 

 be consumed. The whole was probably then placed on the wall of earth, 

 mixed with the requisite fuel, and burned.' The promiscuous mixture of charcoal, 

 burned clay, charred bones, blackened pottery, &c., can only in this way be satis- 

 factorily accounted for. The pottery was broken before it was buried, for the frag- 

 ments were scattered about in a manner that clearly shows that the vessels were 

 not entire. 



A shaft was sunk by us in the sixth mound from the northwest angle on the 

 west wall. A fragment of galena (sulphuret of lead), and another of iron ore used 

 as red paint, and worn smooth, perhaps by long use in adorning the faces of the red 

 men, were near the surface, and were the only articles found. No burned clay was 

 on this mound, and we soon discovered that it is only in a few places that this sub- 

 stance-exists. The earth was here a. yellowish sandy loam, entirely free from spots 

 of black mould ; tkus showing that it was built exclusively from the subsoil of the 

 adjacent grounds. The builders had carefully removed the black soil before they 

 commenced the erection of this mound. Our shaft was sunk some distance below 

 the original surface. Two of the smaller mounds in the interior were also opened, 

 but without results of any interest. 



The mound, or projection, or buttress (whichever it may be termed), at the north- 

 west angle of the inclosure, proved to be one of some interest. (See Fig. 14.) After 



Section of tlie northwest corner mound, Aztalan. 



removing the sods with which it was covered, we came upon fragments of pottery, 

 charcoal, half-burned human bones, and numerous amorphous masses of burned 

 clay scattered loosely and promiscuously about in the earthy materials of the mound. 

 This continued to the depth of one foot only ; below, the earth was quite uniform 

 in appearance, though still showing incontestable proofs of art. Occasional frag- 

 ments of clay, charcoal, and fresh- water shells almost entirely decayed, were observed 

 as we proceeded. Still deeper we found a cavity which was nearly filled with loose 

 earth, in which were indications of bones very much decayed and charcoal. This 

 was divided below into two other cylindrical cavities, extending beneath the original 

 surface of the ground, and filled with the same loose materials. 



Two bodies had doubtless been buried here in the sitting posture, near each other, 

 enveloped and covered, perhaps, by some perishable substances, which had decayed 

 and left the cavity above ; and this shows that the mounds at Aztalan, though con- 

 stituting an inclosure, were used for burial purposes, as were other ordinary circular 

 mounds. 



