4 O.C. Marsh—Description of an Ancient Sepulchral Mound. 
About a foot below the remains just described, and a little 
east of the center of the mound, were two adult human skele- 
tons, lying one above the other, and remarkably well preserved. 
The interment had evidently been performed with great care. 
The heads were toward the east, slightly higher than the feet, 
and the arms were carefully composed at the sides. A white 
ort similar in every respect to the one already mentioned, 
was here voy distinct, and extended horizontally over a space 
of five or six yards, in the center of which the remains had 
been laid. The earth separated readily through this stratum, 
and an examination of the exposed surfaces showed that they 
decomposition of the inner layers had produced the peculiar 
white substance, as a subsequent microscopic examination werk 
indicated.* Directly above these skeletons was a layer of r 
for some time, and then tie to go out; when the Seaman 
of bone and cinders that remained were scraped together, and 
covered with earth. All the bones were in small pieces, and 
the lower extremity of a humerus, and some fragments of a 
fibula, which showed them to be human, and indicated an adult 
rather mee “~ medium size. The two skeletons found beneath 
thes ue ere well formed, and of opposite sex. The 
Saison. f the bones ‘ndinabed that “the female was about 
thirty years of age, and the male somewhat older. It is not im- 
ible that these were husband and wife—the latter Lit to 
eath and buried above the remains of her consort; the 
charred bones may have been those of a human Gporites slain 
at the funeral ceremonies.’ Near these skeletons was a sma 
quantity of reddish brown powder, which proved on examina 
tion to be hematite. It was probably used as a paint.’ 
® This wiite layer, which was thought by nog een rig to be the ee . 
matting, is a characteristic feature i in burial m as only been n found whe " 
mong the ancient Mexicans and Peruv jans, when a ruler gee er person of 
high rank ‘died, his wives and domestics were often put to death at the tomb, and 
urned. 
her mound near 
scovered in the sapties at Marietta. and re- 
garded by some as proof that the otto were acquainted with that hat metal 
4 en thi cet. Im, ments of hematite were, i 
me Aatiaiites Soe., vol. i, pl 168. 
