24 ANTIQUITIES OF THE OUACHITA VALLEY. 
CEMETERY AT Myarr’s LANDING, OUACHITA PARISH, La. 
At Myatt’s Landing, about 15 miles by water below the city of Monroe, is the 
plantation of Capt. A. Myatt, who resides upon it. On the left of the road leading 
inland from the landing, is a large cotton field. At the extreme northern corner of 
this field, adjoining the road, is a restricted area of soil darkened by admixture of 
organic matter, extending variously from .5 foot to 2.5 feet below the surface, on 
which were fragments of musselshells, pebbles, and other debris from aboriginal 
occupancy. 
We were informed by Captain Myatt that in work connected with the planta- 
tion, and later by the digging of several individuals who visited the place, skeletons, 
about ten in number, had been unearthed, and that with these skeletons a few 
earthenware vessels had been found. 
This area covered by debris is one of the highest parts of the plantation, and 
is reached by the river only at periods of exceptionally high water. 
The dwelling-site apparently extends across the road (which has cut through 
it to undisturbed clay) and continues in a northwesterly direction, on which part is 
the residence of Captain Myatt. 
Consequently our investigation was limited to that part of the site lying within 
the field. A most thorough search of this portion was made by us with the aid of 
trenches and trial-holes; this and the subsequent work occupying two days and a 
half with our force of diggers, which, as we have said, consisted of eleven men, 
and four to supervise. | 
It was clearly determined that but a small part of the dwelling-site included 
within the field (that which bordered the fence) had been used as a cemetery, and 
this part was completely dug through by us. 
Thirty-eight burials were encountered in addition to many bones scattered by 
disturbance in aboriginal times and through the agency of the plow at a later period. 
It was as a rule easy to determine to which class these disturbances belonged ; those 
arising through cultivation of the soil being more fragmentary and nearer the sur- 
face than were the aboriginal disturbances. 
No graves were at a depth greater than 2.5 feet. 
a ES burial eps was determined by us in but seven instances was at 
g 3 on the back, with the lower limbs crossed in one case. A number of 
other burials evidently had been at full length also, judging from undisturbed parts 
of the skeleton that remained. 
| Тћете was по fixed orientation, the skulls being directed toward various points 
of the compass. · 
ы. + number of skulls and other skeletal parts from this place were saved in 
fairly good condition, and Were sent to the United States National Museum. 
=> ca e this кет іп which no bones were found, were a number of 
801608, the best preserved of which proved to be: Lampsilis hydianus; L. 
purpuratus ; L. ventricosus satur ; L. anodontoides y Quadrula heros dombeyana y 
O. perplicata. 
