wbbb] ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF NORRIS BASIN 15 



Mound No. 2 



Early in the excavation of the elongated elevation, which was the 

 most prominent feature of this site, it was seen that its ridgelike 

 appearance was due to the close association of a large circular mound 

 and a smaller mound lying to the northeast. Erosion of the topsoil 

 from the larger and higher mound had partially covered the smaller 

 one. Excavation was begun on the smaller mound designated on the 

 plat as Mound No. 2. This mound was made up of yellow and red 

 clay intermixed. It rested on a humus layer 15 inches thick, the 

 apex being 30 inches above the humus line. The mound covered a 

 burned structure which had collapsed on the floor. This structure 

 was composed of split cane and grass thatching which was attached 

 to a network of small poles from 1 to 2 inches in diameter. These 

 poles crossed each other at right angles about 1 foot apart and had 

 evidently been lashed together to form a framework for the attach- 

 ment of the split-cane and grass thatching. All of this material 

 was carbonized by the action of fire. In some portions of the area 

 material of this sort had been completely consumed by fire. Under 

 the charred structure a few irregularly placed post molds were en- 

 countered on the floor. Excavations were extended in three direc- 

 tions from the center of this area, considerably beyond the area 

 covered by the charred remains, in the hope of finding other post 

 molds. None were encountered. If there had ever been a walled 

 structure here the post molds were either so far removed from the 

 burned region as to have been beyond the limits of excavation or they 

 had been destroyed either by cultivation of the soil or the possible 

 removal of parts of the structure by the builders of Mound No. 1. 

 In the later excavation of Mound No. 1, several sections of burned 

 poles about 2 inches in diameter and some 3 feet long were found 

 22 inches above the primary floor. In appearance they were similar 

 to the material of Mound No. 2 and may indicate the partial dis- 

 turbance of this structure when Mound No. 1 was erected. In the 

 absence of any definite proof of a wall under Mound No. 2, this 

 charred pole-cane-grass structure may be only a roof of an arbor 

 supported on the posts irregularly placed, as indicated by the post 

 molds. 



Feature No. 1. — This was a shallow charcoal pit, circular in form 

 and 2 feet in diameter, which was found on the primary floor. The 

 location of this feature is shown in figure 2. 



Feature No. 2. — This was another circular fireplace which is shown 

 in plate 4, a. It was 3 feet in diameter and had in it 16 small stones 

 irregularly placed. This fireplace contained charcoal to a depth of 

 8 inches, which is shown in the photograph, piled in two heaps as 

 it was removed from the pit. This charcoal-filled basin was covered 



