SOME ABORIGINAL SITES. 481 
extending below. No trace of former burials was apparent in the mound, which 
doubtless had been domiciliary. 
About 80 yards directly back of the larger mound, in a field that has been 
under cultivation, is a mound of sandy loam, 2 feet 8 inches in height and about 
60 feet in diameter of base. The mound evidently has been plowed over and 
considerably reduced in height. A number of trial-holes carried to the base, 
in One instance came upon remains of a skull much decayed, and traces of other 
bones. 
MOUND ох THE MARTIN PLACE, BUTLER COUNTY. 
On the extremity of a ridge is a mound overlooking the river, on property 
belonging to Mr. J. W. Martin, who lives somewhat farther inland. 
This mound, quadrilateral and having a top originally flat, has been much 
dug into for a long time and locally has a great reputation for containing human 
bones and “rocks,” though there seems to be absolutely no history as to the 
discovery of artifacts. We were told of the removal from it of numerous slabs 
which had been used later in minor details of building. 
The mound, 5 feet in height, had basal diameters of 115 feet and 90 feet, 
the summit-plateau being about 60 feet square. The mound probably was a 
residential one used later for interments, or possibly one constructed for burial 
purposes, as some low, flat mounds appear to have been. 
Evidently burials had been very numerous in the mound, for when spaces 
were selected which showed no evidence of former digging, cight trial-holes all 
quickly came upon stone graves, one of which, however, in spite of our careful 
selection of spaces for investigation, proved to be a complete disturbance, while 
others had been interfered with to some extent. : 
It has been noted that the valley of the Cumberland river, in Tennessee, was 
the region where the regular stone box-grave was most frequently in use, and 
as one departs from that region variants in the form of the grave make their 
appearance. Details as to these variants are often so numerous and of such a 
character as to make exact description difficult, but when to this is added the 
fact that there has been disturbance among the graves, a clear recital of details 
is well nigh impossible. However, one can but do one’s best. 
Burials Nos. 1 and 2. Near the surface was what had the appearance of a 
pavement of small slabs evenly laid, but leaving inconsiderable spaces un- 
covered, as would of necessity be the case when undressed slabs were employed. 
This pavement, nearly quadrangular, was 5 feet 7 inches by 4 feet 3 inches 
in extent and was made of sandstone slabs, which variety of stone was the only 
one noticed by us in the mound. 
At the southeastern corner of the pavement and incorporated with it, was a 
box-grave (Burial No. 1) containing the bones of a young child, much decayed. 
This grave, shown in diagram (Fig. 21, where relative positions are given, not 
all drawn exactly to scale) as having the covering slabs removed, had a neat 
flooring of slabs. The upper margins of the sides and ends, upright slabs, were 
