20 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



c. This arch had a frame of saplings and branches underneath, 

 covered with dirt and sods. In the center of this strong frame above 

 an opening, d, was left. This was reached by a primitive ladder, e, 

 made of a notched pole which gave strength to the roof. This was 

 the only means of ingress or egress for light, smoke and Indians. 

 He found one still standing* in a dilapidated condition, but observed 

 the remains of many. When the roof fell in, a low mound was 

 formed, with a marked central depression. These would probably 

 differ from the Perch lake mounds in the size of this depression, the 

 hight of the circle, and the evidences of fire throughout. The latter 

 were probably simple tepees, pitched from time to time on the same 

 spot, but not continuously occupied. The accumulation was gradual, 

 but earth might have covered the lower part of the wall. 



In his report on Mound Explorations, Prof. Cyrus Thomas 

 described some mounds of this class closely connected with larger 

 mounds in the Welch group, Brown county, Illinois. The group 

 " consists of six mounds, and a number of small saucer-shaped basins 

 surrounded by low, earthen ridges, doubtless the sites of ancient 

 dwellings or wigwams." Thomas, p.118. He adds that " the dwell- 

 ing sites vary considerably in size, some being as much as 70 feet 

 in diameter, and some of them 3 feet deep in the center after 50 

 years of cultivation." In describing those on the Big Mary river, 

 111., he adds something on their situation and origin: 



These are situated upon a flat topped ridge, about 30 feet higher 

 than the creek bottoms. They are low, with the usual depression in 

 the center, but the outlines are rather indistinct. Mr Gault of Sparta, 

 who has long resided here, states that when he first moved to this 

 section, the Indians lived in houses or wigwams which, when de- 

 cayed, left such remains as these. They hollowed out a shallow cir- 

 cular cavity in the surface soil, then, standing poles around the 

 margin of this basin, brought them together at the top, and having 

 covered them with bark or other material — in other words having 

 constructed wigwams of the usual circular' form — covered them in 

 whole or in part, specially the lower portion — with earth. He also 

 said that after a camp was abandoned and the wood rotted away, it 

 left these rings of earth. Thomas, p. 141 



In one inclosure near Lakeville, Stoddard county, Missouri, he 

 says, 



