162 



CERTAIN SAND MOUNDS OF 



STONE. 



Ten "celts" of polished stone were met with, the majority on the base in 



the vicinity of human remains. One rude 

 chipped implement of chert also was found, 

 while a number of arrow heads of chert, 

 chert breccia and of chalcedony were singly, 

 as a rule, on the base of the mound. 



A fragment that had formed part of a 

 large vessel of steatite was obtained at a 

 depth denoting original deposit. No vessel, 

 or fragment of a vessel, of stone has before 

 been found by us in the river mounds, 

 though a piece of considerable size was taken 

 from the river, not far from Thursby mound. 



Near the base, in the southern slope of 

 the mound, was a lance head of chert 5 - 35 

 inches in length, with a maximum breadth 

 of 2-5 inches (Fig. 33). 



The unusual scarcity of lance heads in the 

 river mounds is worthy of remark. During 

 all our mound investigations but five have 

 been met with exceeding 4 inches in length. 



In caved sand, and therefore of unde- 

 termined depth, was a highly polished bead 

 of red jasper with lateral perforation. Its 

 length was 1-1 inches, its width 1 inch, its 

 maximum thickness - 65 of an inch. To 

 those familiar with the character of jasper, 

 upon whose surface steel fails to make an 

 impression, the even perforation of this bead 

 will be a matter of surprise. Its accomplish- 

 ment was probably rendered possible by the 



Fig. 33. Lauee head of chert, Thursby 

 Mound. (Full size.) 



aid of a revolving reed with sand and water. 



SHELL. 



Two and one-half feet from the surface, with human bones, was a drinking cup 

 wrought from Fulgur perversum. A similar one was met with in caved sand. 

 Both had suffered the usual mutilation by intentional perforation of the base. 



Curiously enough, and in marked contrast with other large river mounds, no 

 shell beads were met with in Thursby mound, except with superficial interments. 



