98 SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 



tions of the structures which had been disturbed in pre-white days. 

 In five mounds which were entirely excavated we found that earth 

 had been piled against the large leaning slabs and that a mantle of 

 smaller slabs had then been laid over the entire (?) mound to cover 

 an area 25 or 30 feet across (fig. 102) . Without detailing the evidence, 

 I am inclined to attribute the earth fill and outer slab sheathing to a 

 later people than those who erected the original vault, perhaps to the 

 same group which left shell-tempered pottery in the tombs. Although 

 direct proof is mostly lacking, it seems likely, too, that the original 

 structures in this vicinity were built by a people with Hopewellian 

 affinities who were probably among the earliest potters and farmers 

 in the eastern plains. 



Near Farley, on the right bank of the Platte River, a prehistoric 

 village and cemetery with different cultural connections was explored. 

 Here the natives dwelt in earth-covered partly subterranean struc- 

 tures whose roofs were borne by four central posts. Shell-tempered 

 pottery, often with incised lines, was abundant. Small modeled human 

 heads and animal effigies occur on some vessels. Low recurved rims, 

 angular to rounding shoulders, dippers, water bottles, and flat- 

 bottomed vertical-walled bowls are other traits. Present also are 

 small notched and unnotched points, scrapers, knives, drills, paired 

 sandstone shaft buffers, the polished adz or gouge, effigy pipes, fine- 

 grained sandstone ornaments, bone awls, socketed antler cylinders 

 (handles?), deer jaw sinew stretchers, longitudinally pierced deer 

 phalanges for cup-and-pin game, shell hoes, twisted cordage, maize, 

 beans, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, and a few animal bones. In 

 the nearby cemetery were more than 80 primary extended (fig. 103), 

 bundle, and flexed burials, apparently of a short broad-headed popula- 

 tion. Accompanying artifacts were scarce, but several restorable 

 and one complete pot conclusively link the burials with the village. 

 Near Smithville, a few miles up the Little Platte, similar vessels 

 have been found recently by amateurs in a large earth mound, appar- 

 ently with flexed mat- wrapped burials. Pottery (fig. 104) generally 

 indicates close relationships to that found on certain so-called Middle 

 Mississippi sites in southern Illinois and elsewhere. Though occa- 

 sional trade pieces of this type have been coming to light even farther 

 up the Missouri, no communities have heretofore been reported this 

 far west. 



Gratefully acknowledged is the cooperation of property owners 

 during the past two seasons in Platte County, and invaluable assistance 

 given by J. M. Shippee and other local enthusiasts. 



