410 ABORIGINAL SITES ON TENNESSEE RIVER. 
at the close of the season, was surrounded with growing grain. In view of the 
unproductive character of the mounds in this region, and the damage to property 
which the work would entail, we did not consider it worth while to investigate 
this mound. 
MOUNDS ON THE BUTLER PLACE, RoANE COUNTY. 
On the property of Mrs. Fanny Butler, of Harriman, Tenn., immediately 
across the river from the Ewing Place, next to be described, in sight from the 
water, are three mounds, two about 5 feet in height, one 3.5 feet high, approxi- 
mately, having respective diameters of 50, 50, and 40 feet (estimated). These 
mounds at the time of our visit were covered with growing grain and were not 
investigated by us. 
MOUNDS ON THE EWING PLACE, ROANE COUNTY. 
On the property of Mr. R. E. Ewing, resident thereon, are six mounds in a 
cultivated field, a few yards from one another, none of which has been plowed 
over. The group is visible from the river. Someone, doubtless a victim of 
unrequited endeavor, had dug a large trench into one of the principal mounds 
before our coming, but otherwise no sign of previous disturbance was apparent 
in the group. 
These mounds are in height, respectively: 12 feet 6 inches, 10 feet 9 inches, 
10 feet 2 inches, 8 feet 5 inches, 7 feet, 5 feet 7 inches; the diameters being 65 feet, 
55 feet, 65 feet by 55 feet, 50 feet, 50 feet, 45 feet. 
A hole 12 feet square, sunk by us centrally in the smallest mound, came 
upon parts of a skeleton at a depth of 16 inches, so badly decayed that even the 
teeth crumbled when rolled between the thumb and fingers. 
A distinct base-line was reached at a depth of 6 feet 3 inches, and on this 
dark stratum, in a corner of the excavation, were the remains of a skull in the 
last stage of decay, other bones perhaps having disappeared. With the skull 
was an asymmetrical banner-stone of sandstone, a rounded ellipse in outline, 
with the perforation so clumsily made that fragments of the stone were broken 
out at each extremity of it. At some distance from the skull was a rude arrow- 
head or knife, of flint. 
On one side of the center of the excavation was a roughly circular grave 
between 5 feet 3 inches and 5 feet 10 inches in diameter, cutting through the 
base-line and extending 2 feet 3 inches below it, at the deepest part. The sides of 
the grave, however, sloped considerably, and it was only in the central part that 
the greatest depth was attained. 
The pit had been dug into undisturbed red clay, and some of this clay had 
been piled around the opening, while more of it, mixed with dark soil which had 
been scraped from the surface and of which the mound was made, had been 
used to fill the grave. Careful search failed to discover any trace of skeletal 
remains in this pit, and as the soil in the bottom of it was very moist it is almost 
certain that a burial originally in the grave had decayed away. 
