Excavations in the Matthews Site, New Madrid County, Mo. 81 
used as the east-west cross line with the north-south base line 
extending north from the fence over the center of the mound 
T 
NMolO- A nail^^hcad on the south root of a 24 inch elm in 
the fence row between the Matthews and Steel estates was used 
■- 
as a bench mark for relative elevation. 
Three different methods were employed in excavating the 
Matthews site: vertical slicing, horizontal stripping, and test 
trenching. 
The vertical slicing technique was particularly useful in ob- 
taining a cross section profile of the village in the gulley area 
and in excavating the burial mound. 
Horizontal stripping was resorted to in all areas where house 
sites were encountered. House sites were excavated by stripping 
down from the surface in six inch layers in order to disclose 
complete floor patterns. Moreover, the six inch level system 
was used for recording all miscellaneous material. 
Test trenching was used in excavating the large ceremonial 
mound and in ^ther areas where it was necessary to determine 
sterile depth or internal structure. Throughout the site, that 
technique was employed which might best reveal the exact posi- 
archaeological 
jects. 
* 
V. RESULTS OF EXCAVATIONS 
Test Trenches 
* P 
A series of seven test squares (numbered Tl to T7 on Plates 
foot 
IV) 
lope at the south end of the village. These trenches 
revealed quantities of miscellaneous flints, animal bones, burnt 
clay, and potsherds, all apparently in secondary position. A 
total of 116 vessels was indicated by the rim sherds alone. 
A second line of test pits (numbered T8 to T13) was dug 
near the margin of the wheat field. Results of these tests in the 
portions 
flints were 
most abundant at the surface, diminishing to level 3. Bones 
were most abundant at level 3, diminishing to level 6. Burnt 
clay was most abundant at level 4, diminishing to level 6. Plam 
shell tempered ware was most abundant at the surface, diminish- 
ing to level 6. Decorated grit tempered ware was abundant at 
level 2 and 4, decreasing to level 6. Materials from T14 and 
T15, located on the slopes of the deep gulley, were listed, with 
the surface remains as of unknown origin. 
Test pits T16 to T35 were scattered about at various 
in the northern section of the village. While these t^st ti 
points 
