CERTAIN ABORIGINAL REMAINS OF THE TOMBIGBEE RIVER. 507 



But, generally, the lofty residence of the Chief was approached by only one flight 

 of steps. These mounds were perpendicular, and inaccessible, except by the avenues 

 already mentioned, which rendered the houses upon them secure from the attack 

 of an Indian enemy. Besides the motive of security, a disposition to place the 

 Chief and his family in a commanding position, and to raise him above his subjects, 

 caused the formation of these singular elevations." 



Mound at Cole's Landing, Greene County, Ala. 

 This mound, circular in outline, 3 feet in height, 36 feet across the base, is but 

 a few yards from the river bank, about 200 yards in a N. W. direction from the 

 landing. It is on property controlled by A. Y. Sharpe, Esq., of Demopolis, Ala. 

 All the central part of the mound, which was of hard clay, was carefully dug 

 through by us. No interments were met with but, loose in the clay, was a polished 

 hatchet of volcanic rock. 



Mounds at Spragins' Mill, Marengo County, Ala. 

 Spragins' Mill is about eight miles below Demopolis, on the east side of the 

 river. The mounds, which were beautifully rounded and but a few yards apart, 

 were 150 yards from the water and one-quarter mile in a northerly direction from 

 the mill, on property of T. J. Spragins, Esq., of Demopolis, Ala. 



The southernmost mound, circular in out- 

 line, 3 feet 4 inches high, had a basal diameter 

 of 40 feet. The mound, which was intact, was 

 dug through by us, save a marginal part on one 

 side. It was unstratified, of brownish sand. In 

 addition to a few scattered bones, human re- 

 mains were found at five points. 



Burial No. 1. — Decaying skull and a few 

 fragments of long-bones. 



Burial No. 2. — Skull, long-bones of legs, 

 one humerus, all crumbling through decay. 



Burial No. 3. — Skull with scattered bones. 

 With these were two rudely-shaped bits of 

 shell, perforated, and a triangular shell pendant, 

 pierced for suspension (Fig. 3). 



Burial No. 4. — Nearly 3 feet down and just 

 below the center, four crania and a pile of vari- 

 ous bones. With one skull was a small, neat 

 arrowhead and nearby lay a lancehead of quartzite, 5 inches in length. 

 Burial No. 5. — Skull of an adult, alone. 



The northernmost mound, 4 feet 9 inches high, had a diameter of 40 feet 

 across the base and resembled the other in shape and in material. A hole about 



it Spragins' 



65 JOURN. A. N. S. PHILA., VOL. XI. 



