114 BUREAU OP AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 118 



it is to be expected that several forms of burials may appear. How- 

 ever, while certain customs may not be universal in a given tribe, 

 yet they may be distinctive. In this connection, the placing over 

 and under the body slabs of wood and bark is regarded by Bushnell 

 as a custom common to the Creeks. Of this last there will be further 

 discussion later. 



This body of evidence on burials in a sitting posture has been 

 derived from reports of early travelers in the historic period. There 

 has been very little archaeological evidence on this point from sites 

 wholly within the prehistoric. 



Jones, 7 in writing of the Florida Indians, says : 



Not infrequently the dead was interred in a sitting posture. 



Such was the case in a large mound carefully opened by the writer upon 

 the Colonels Island. The corpse had evidently been placed upon the ground 

 and held in position while the loose sand was heaped around and above. In 

 the neighborhood of the feet and hands were numerous bone and shell beads 

 which, at the time of the inhumation, encircled the wrists, arms, and ankles. 

 Near the skeleton lay three stone axes, several spear and arrow heads, two 

 pipes of rather unusual size — one of clay and the other of steatite — and a 

 terra cotta bowl, the property of the deceased at the period of his death. 



In another mound the body had first been seated in the centre of the spot 

 to be surmounted by the tumulus, and there, with his possessions deposited 

 by his side, was securely encased in a covering of tenacious red clay, 6 or 8 

 inches in thickness, and oven-shaped. In this manner — the clay becoming 

 dry and hard — the sitting posture was maintained while the earth-tomb was 

 heaped above. 



Sometimes a stout light-wood post was first driven into the ground, and the 

 dead, seated with their backs to the posts, were securely lashed to it by means 

 of thongs or grapevines. Two instances of this sort have been brought to our 

 knowledge. In one mound a single skeleton was found at the foot of the 

 post. In the other the remains of three skeletons appeared, back to back, 

 the post being in the centre. 



Captain Bossu 8 informs us that the Alibamons buried their dead in a sitting 

 posture, stating, in justification of the custom, that man being upright, should 

 have his head turned toward heaven, which was to be his habitation. "They 

 give to them", he continues, "a calumet and some tobacco to smoke, that they 

 may make peace with the inhabitants of the other world. If the corpse be of a 

 warrior, he is buried with his arms, which are a musket, some powder and 

 bullets, a quiver full of arrows, a bow, and a hatchet, or club; and besides 

 these a mirror and some vermilion with which they may dress themselves in 

 the other world." 



It would appear from these statements that the burial customs of 

 the Muscogulges, as reported by these observers, were quite similar 

 to that found on Site No. 10. By this it is not meant to state, or even 

 imply, that the occupants of Site No. 10 were Creeks, or any of the 

 other Muskhogean tribes. It is only desired to call attention to this 



7 Jones, Charles C, 1873, pp. 183-184. 



8 Bossu, Capt., 1771, vol. 1, p. 257. 



