152 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 118 



Upon completion of the excavation of the mound a dark humus 

 layer, uniformly 9 inches thick, was found under the entire mound. 

 This was regarded as the primary floor, since there were patches of 

 hard-clay floor directly over the humus layer. There were, how- 

 ever, no post molds associated with this floor. The humus layer con- 

 tained the usual evidence of an old village site. 



Mound No. 3 



Mound No. 3 is the most westward member of the group of three 

 mounds at this site. It is on the highest part of the hill, and is 

 nearest to Clinch River, being about 800 feet east of the river. It 

 was at first not recognized as a mound, but was regarded as a natural 

 elongated ridge, the highest portion of the hill, the east side of 

 which showed considerable erosion. It was heavily covered with 

 small trees and undergrowth, and a surface inspection was impos- 

 sible. After work was well started on other mounds on this site 

 and their nature was revealed, it was apparent that they were erected 

 on an extensive village site. For this reason it was doubted that 

 this westward ridge was a natural formation. It was cleared of 

 brush and trees. 



A trench 5 feet by 30 feet, which was put down in the edge of 

 this ridge, revealed mixed earth with a trace of potsherds to a depth 

 of 5.5 feet. At this depth the humus was encountered. 



The humus, which was mixed throughout with a considerable quan- 

 tity of potsherds, shell, and flint chips, extended to a depth of 10 

 inches. Upon this evidence it was decided to chart this ridge as 

 Mound No. 3. It was therefore staked in the usual 10-foot squares 

 for excavation. 



The area selected for excavation was southwest of a stake desig- 

 nated 0.0. This rectangular area extended 90 feet to the south and 

 60 feet to the west of the stake. Whole numbers were used to desig- 

 nate blocks north and south, while decimals were used to designate 

 squares east and west. The shape of the original made-earth mound 

 could not be determined by a superficial investigation, and it was 

 later found necessary to extend the staked area 40 feet to the east. 

 These stakes were designated by "primes." A plat of the area ex- 

 cavated is shown in figure 63. On the plat are shown the positions 

 of the various features which are designated by number. They are 

 here listed and described in numerical order. 



Feature No. 1. — A baked-clay fire pit, circular in form, was found 

 at a depth of 9 inches. It was 18 inches in diameter and 7 inches 

 deep, and was located southwest of stake 4.2. 



