Excavations in the Matthews Site, New Madrid County, Mo. 79 
as the head to the centre, and were lying on the back, on 
the face, on the right side and on the left, and in two in- 
stances appeared drawn up as if in sitting posture (flexed?). 
As the first skeletons were uncovered on the outer margin, 
they were found lying side by side with a covering of about 
14" of earth. The next layer immediately above was ad- 
vanced a little nearer the centre. Then followed others in 
the same order, until finally they were were found lying 
six deep, the bones much decayed, separated and broken, 
and mingled together in a mass interspersed with sand 
which had covered them. 
>» 
■ 
The other burial mound (C) (present designation 
NMoH) marked (31), at the comer of the cuhlvated field 
of Mr.- 1. S. Brey, is a low flat circular mound, llCf in 
diameter and 9^ high. A number of skeletons and much 
pottery have been taken from this mound also. Col. Cros- 
well states that "a skeleton was found extended at full 
length on the back, with the skull resting upon a stone 
weighing sixteen pounds. The stone is a smooth drift 
boulder of quartzite, having at one side, which lay upper- 
most, nearly a flat surface with an artificial depression in 
the centre. It resembled the old fashioned lapstone used 
by shoemakers. (Anvil?) Another singular form of burial 
discovered in this mound, was that of skeleton extended 
on the feack, with the skull resting in a shallow dish, the 
side next the shoulders having been removed to accom- 
modate the head and neck, and keep the whole on a level. 
During the examination of the mound a hearth was ex- 
posed, covering a space of about 12' square, in the immedi- 
ate vicinity of which, three vessels were discovered which 
had contained yellow and red paint." 
The second mound (D) (present designation NMol3) 
marked (29) is circular in plan, 60^ in diameter and 7' high. 
This was probably also a burial mound, but very little work 
has been done in excavating it. 
F) (present design 
NM016 
high respectively, and each 16' in diameter. No excava- 
tions have been made in them.* 
The circular depressions are well marked at this settle- 
ment. 
excep- 
tion of an oval space near the large mound, as far as the 
cultivated field on the south side, in which all traces of the 
settlement are lost. A few depressions may be seen south 
of the comer of the field along the edge of the bluff, and 
