CERTAIN ABORIGINAL REMAINS OF THE TOMBIGBEE RIVER. 



By Clarence B. Moore. 



Two years ago, in 1899, we investigated the antiquities of the Alabama and 

 Mobile rivers * with rather interesting results, showing the existence on the Alabama 

 river of the custom of plural burials of uncremated remains in urns, these urns 

 being capped by other vessels inverted. 



. It seemed to us that an investigation of the Tombigbee river, which, with the 

 Alabama, forms the Mobile river, would be desirable. 



To facilitate and greatly to expedite our work, J. S. Raybon, Captain of the 

 flat-bottomed steamer from which our mound work is done, started with a compan- 

 ion from Columbus, Miss., on the Little Tombigbee river, and pursued a downward 

 course to the junction of that river with the Black Warrior and on down the Tom- 

 bigbee river (see map) to its union with the Alabama, in all a distance of about 

 334 miles. 



In this work, which was most conscientiously done, Captain Raybon spent 

 nearly four months, and located, we believe, nearly every camp-site and mound of 

 the entire territory covered by him. The owners of these antiquities, addressed in 

 advance, almost unanimously granted permission to investigate, so, from the outset 

 of our work in the winter of 1901, our entire time could be devoted to direct 

 research. 



Elaborate charts, in sections, kindly furnished us by Major William T. Rossell, 

 U. S. Engineer, Mobile, Ala., and R. C. McCalla, Esq., Assistant Engineer, Tusca- 

 loosa, Ala., greatly facilitated our work. 



We had hoped, on the Tombigbee river, to locate cemeteries at or near locali- 

 ties showing former aboriginal occupation, but after much search with sounding rods 

 and with trenches without favorable result of any sort, work on camp-sites was 

 abandoned and mounds alone were looked into. 



After six weeks' work vigorously pushed by our large party, including our 

 trained diggers aided by ample local assistance, where necessary, so little in a posi- 

 tive way had been gained by us that our search was given up at Bickley's Landing, 

 29 miles below Demopolis, Ala., and 178 miles from Columbus, Miss, our starting 

 point, From Bickley's Landing to the union of the Tombigbee with the Alabama 

 is a distance of 156 miles, left uncovered by us. Reports from this territory were 

 less encouraging than had been those from that investigated by us. 



1 "Certain Aboriginal Remains of the Alabama River," Journal of the Academy of Natural 

 Sciences of Philadelphia, Vol. XI. 



64 JOURN. A. N. S. PHILA., VOL. XL 



