396 ABORIGINAL SITES ON TENNESSEE RIVER. 
into the body of the mound, if at all, could not be determined. The contents 
of this pit were removed with the utmost care with the aid of a trowel, having 
in view the possible presence of a burial, but not even the crown of a tooth was 
unearthed. 
Together, on the base of the pit, in a little pile, were: a hone of sandstone, 
elliptical in outline, 4.5 inches by 3.5 inches; a pebble-hammer, discoidal, 2.25 
inches in diameter; a triangular point of flint, about 2 inches in length; an object 
of slate, about 5 inches long, resembling a celt but having a rounded, blunt 
edge and possessing on one side, at one end, a lustre, as if conferred by wear; 
a similar object of slate, slightly more than 3 inches long, having lost a part of 
one end through an unsuccessful attempt to make a perforation, and having a 
depression below the fracture where another hole had been attempted; still 
another object of slate, of the type of the foregoing, 3.3 inches in length, this 
one, however, having a perforation at one end. 
In the neighborhood of Mound A are extensive dwelling-sites with con- 
siderable debris on the surface; but this being pasture land, the sites were not 
subject to investigation. Mr. Benham informed us, however, that some time ago 
his son and a companion had dug extensively in the sites, finding many burials 
with accompanying artifacts. A portion of the objects discovered was inspected 
by us at Mr. Benham’s home on the island, and while the objects are of much 
interest as illustrating the aboriginal culture that prevailed on the is and, the 
collection contained nothing notable, the pottery being of inferior ware and of 
inferior form, while no object of flint of exceptional interest was present. The 
only engraved shell gorget in the collection bore the triskele surrounded by the 
conventional rattlesnake. Glass beads and objects of brass also were present. 
MOUNDS NEAR ARMSTRONG FERRY, МЕтсв COUNTY. 
Mounds on property of Mr. A. F. Armstrong, living near them. Two about 
one mile below Armstrong Ferry, 200 yards apart approximately; one about one 
mile above the ferry: all in open fields. The dimensions estimated by our agent, 
an expert judge of the matter, are, respectively, basal diameter 40 feet, 50 feet, 
AO feet; height, 6 feet, 9 feet, and 8 feet. Permission refused. 
MOUNDS NEAR Mouta or Мор CREEK, RHEA COUNTY. 
Mound at the lower side of Mud creek, one-half mile NNE. from the mouth, 
and 100 yards №. from Mud creek, 40 feet by 40 feet by 6 feet. Three hundred 
and fifty yards N. from the first mound, in open field, is another, 40 feet by 40 
feet by 7 feet. At the river, just below the mouth of the creek, a campsite. 
Mounds visited by our agent and dimensions estimated by him. Owner, Mr. 
Summerfield Fisher, resident on the property. Permission not granted. 
MOUNDS NEAR GILLESPIE LANDING, RHEA COUNTY. 
Near the river, on the Gillespie Place, belonging to Mr. J. W. Gillespie living 
about 1.5 mile back from the landing, are two mounds about one mile apart, 
