SOME ABORIGINAL SITES ON MISSISSIPPI RIVER.. 
By CLARENCE B. Moore. 
This report treats of our investigation of some aboriginal sites along Mississippi 
river, lying within three miles on each side of the stream or within that distance 
back from certain dead rivers, so-called, which are former courses of the Mississippi. 
The investigation covered the river from New Orleans, Louisiana, to a point 
somewhat above Wilson, Arkansas, not far from the southeastern boundary of the 
State of Missouri, a distance of about 775 miles, by water. It occupied one hun- 
dred and thirty-one days: parts of November and December, 1910; of January and 
April, 1911; and all of February and March, 1911. 
As has been explained in previous reports, Mr. J. S. Raybon, captain of the 
steamer from which our explorations are conducted, as has been his custom for 
many years to do, with a companion, in advance of our coming, went over in a 
small boat much of the territory which it was our intention to explore, making 
inquiries at landings, visiting sites, and obtaining the names of their owners, from 
whom permission to dig could be procured prior to our coming. The time devoted 
by Captain Raybon to this work was parts of two summers, and the portion of the 
Mississippi river searched by him was from the northernmost point to which our 
exploration was conducted down to Natchez, Mississippi. Consequently that part 
of the river (archeeologically an unimportant one at the present time) from Natchez 
to New Orleans, was investigated by us without the advantage of a previous search 
made in our behalf. 
Unfortunately for the cause of archeology, investigation along the banks of the 
Mississippi, where in the past numerous Indian villages were, is affected by two 
adverse conditions. The great river is ceaselessly changing its course, eating into 
one place and depositing soil at another. Hale Point, Tennessee, a site celebrated 
for the discovery of interesting relics even in recent times, is now totally destroyed 
by the encroachment of the stream, while it is likely, on the other hand, that some 
interesting sites along the river now lie beneath thick layers of alluvial deposit. 
Cultivation also is rapidly removing nearly all traces of aboriginal remains— 
especially the sites on comparatively level ground, in which so many aboriginal 
burials in the Mississippi river region are found. 
' Distances by water in this report are taken from the “Map of the Alluvial Valley of the 
Mississippi River. Published by the Mississippi River Commission, 1907,” a publication of the United 
States Government. | 
