30 ABORIGINAL SITES IN LOUISIANA AND IN ARKANSAS. 
Burial No. 23. This grave, oblong with rounded corners, 8 feet by 3.5 feet 
by 1 foot 10 inches deep, contained bones, including thirty skulls, which reached 
to within 8 inches of the surface in places. 
Part of a pot having a basal perforation made before the firing of the vessel 
was the only artifact accompanying the numerous deposits of bones. 
No bones of children were discovered in this mound, and if any had been 
placed in the graves explored by us—and it seems likely that such was the case 
—all trace of them had disappeared. 
An interesting point in connection with this mound is that none of the four 
single burials of skeletons from it had any artifact in association. 
As a general rule one expects to discover, and generally does discover, 
more artifacts placed with single skeletons than with burials of the bunched 
variety. The reason for this presumably is that entire skeletons probably 
are of individuals dead a shorter time at the period of interment than were those 
to whom the disconnected bones be- 
longed, whose ligaments no longer 
held them together, and consequently 
the affection of those related to the 
individual burials had been allowed 
less time to abate. 
In this mound, as in the one at 
Sorrel bayou, in the Atchafalaya re- 
gion, already described in this report, 
reburial of bones evidently had ta- 
ken place, as a number of skulls were 
found filled with clay differing en- 
tirely in shade from that present in 
the mound. It is true that Lake 
Larto is somewhat north of the coun- 
try of the Chitimachas, by whom it 
is recorded reburial was practised; 
nevertheless it is clear the custom 
was not confined to that region. 
The pottery from this place, 
though not of more than medium 
quality, shows evidence of consider- 
able care in finish in some instances, 
and, as a rule, is graceful in form. 
One piece bears. a high polish, and in this connection it is interesting to note 
that the pebbles found in this mound had the appearance of having served as 
smoothing stones. The decoration of the ware is incised and punctate as a rule, 
a favorite design being a series of incised, encircling, parallel lines below the 
rim. 
Fic. 11.—Vessel of earthenware. Mayes mound. 
(Height 4.9 inches.) 
