webb] ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF NORRIS BASIN I59 



yet it is to be noted that many of the characteristics of such sites 

 are absent on Site No. 17. 



The square "altar" with four-pointed basin is a unique feature 

 and so far as is known has never before been reported. 



Site No. 18.— STINER FAKM STONE MOUNDS 



The farm of Sherman Stiner lies in Lead Mine Bend of Powell 

 River, in Union County, Tenn. The farm is the site of four stone 

 mounds ranged in a group some 30 to 40 feet apart. The mounds 

 were about 16 to 18 feet in diameter and were composed of large slabs 

 of dolomite limestone piled directly on clay soil. There was very 

 little soil between the rocks, and the mounds were all partially cov- 

 ered with small trees which had grown up between the rocks. 



Prior to the removal of the stones, all trees, grass, and leaf mold 

 were removed, in order that any intentional method of placement 

 of the stones might be observed. The mounds were not staked off, 

 due to their small size. There was also the possibility that all evi- 

 dence had been removed by a group of miners, who were said to 

 have disturbed the mounds in the year 1900. The mounds were low, 

 due undoubtedly to the removal of many of the flat limestone slabs 

 by previous investigators. The slabs lay in horizontal position on 

 all four mounds, except in Mound No. 4. 



In Mound No. 1 a pit had been dug several feet into the hardpan, 

 possibly by former investigators. At the bottom of this pit were 

 found a few long human bones. All the stones were removed from 

 the mound and no other evidence was encountered beneath them. 

 Because of the scattering of the stones it was impossible to judge 

 what the original diameter of the mound might have been; but its 

 diameter at the time investigation began approximated 14 feet, and 

 the average height was not greater than 1 foot. 



Mound No. 2 contained an interesting burial extended in the flesh. 

 The preservation of the skeleton was very poor. The body had been 

 placed on its back on the original ground surface and limestone 

 slabs piled over it. The head was toward the east. The skeleton 

 was evidently an adult male. In association with it were three arrow 

 points, a banded slate gorget, a sandstone pipe with a double bowl, 

 two bear mandibles, and a large piece of mica. (PL 105, h.) This 

 was the only skeleton in this mound. 



These four stone mounds yielded no pottery. From a single grave 

 in Mound No. 2 were taken the artifacts shown in plate 104, 6, with 

 the exception of the block of mica. The single-hole slate gorget was 

 4.3 inches long and 0.25 inch thick. The double-bowl pipe was made 

 of sandstone. Its height was 2.8 inches and the extreme breadth 4 

 inches. The two bowls were symmetrically bored cones converging 



