223 CRANIA AMERICANA. 



during the summer of 1838. He commenced digging on the north side of the 

 mound, and about four feet above the trench that surrounds it, from which point 

 a horizontal shaft was excavated to the centre. At a distance of twelve or fifteen 

 feet from the surface were found numerous masses composed of charcoal and 

 burnt bone. Before reaching the centre a passageway was discovered to a vault 

 at the base : this passage had an inclination of ten or fifteen degrees, and had been 

 covered with timber, of which the impression on the earth alone remains ; and 

 the vault itself was partially filled up by these timbers giving way, and admitting 

 the soil from above, and many loose stones which appear to have formed part of 

 the covering of this chamber, After removing all this rubbish from the vault, 

 two skeletons were found covered with sand, one on the east, the other on the 

 west side. The former was the smaller and most perfect of the two, and its 

 cranium is figured on the annexed plate.* In this sepulchral chamber, and 

 chiefly in connection with the larger skeleton, w^as found a great number of 

 trinkets of various kinds, but principally six hundred and fifty ivoryf beads, per- 

 forated in the centre. 



" On carrying a shaft upwards from this vault, another was discovered above 

 it, and extending eighteen feet in length and eight in width. In it was found a 

 solitary skeleton in a state of extreme decay, and which appeared, like those in 

 the vault beneath, to have been placed in a standing position. With the bones 

 were also obtained no less than seventeen hundred ivory beads, like those already 

 mentioned, five hundred marine shells of the genus Oliva?, and about one hundred 

 and fifty small plates of mica; the latter being perforated at their sides and 

 corners. Five copper bands or bracelets were found on the bones of the arms, 

 together with various articles of minor interest. 



" Mr. Tomlinson next dug a shaft from the top of the mound (which is con- 

 cave, as if sunk in) down to the lowest vault; but he had first to remove an oak 

 tree two feet and a half in diameter, and numbering three hundred growths from 

 centre to circumference. Within three feet of the surface was found a skeleton 

 in complete decomposition. On reaching the lowest vault it was determined to 

 enlarge it for the more easy access of visiters, and it was accordingly extended to 

 a diameter of twenty-eight feet During this operation ten more skeletons were 



* See Plate 53. 



tDr. Clemens assures me that these beads are genuine ivori/, and not bone; and adds, that as he 

 had himself wrought much in ivory, he could not be mistaken in the material. 



