410 Exploration of a Mound in Utah. [July, 
where a century ago immense ant-hills were to be found near the 
shore, now some days’ journeys inland have to be made to find 
them. We are justified in hoping for this retreat of white ants 
here, in front of a rapidly advancing culture. 
EXPLORATION OF A MOUND IN UTAH. 
NFORMATION having been received that a mound existed on + 
Santa Clara River, a few miles from the village of St. George, 
in Southern Utah, which from its position promised to yield in- 
teresting results, it was deemed of sufficient importance to have 
it explored. Dr. E. Palmer, being in that neighborhood last fall, 
was requested to direct the operations in the interest of the Na- 
tional Museum. The report which he submitted gives interest- 
ing details of what he observed during the progress of the work, 
and his impressions explanatory of the same. 
ith the necessary workmen and tools he proceeded to the 
mound in question, on the east side of the Santa Clara River, 
about three miles from St. George, Utah, and camped at its 
base. A general view of the situation showed an isolated eleva- 
tion which had originally covered about half an acre of ground 
with a varying height of ten or twelve feet, which had been cut 
away nearly one half on the side of the river by the action of its 
waters during a freshet in 1861 or 1862. The outline it presen 
on the ground was quite irregular. The rise in the river had 
changed the position of the channel, and deepened it and also 
made it wider. At this time, however, the stream is reduced to 4 
very small width, say from twelve to fifteen feet. What remained 
of the mound was quite a conspicuous object in the landscapes 
about forty feet from the river-bed, with a vertical escarpment on 
that side, but evidently it had been a circular work before 1t8 
partial demolition by the river. The lines of stratification see? 
on the river front were conclusive as to its having been piled up 
by human agency, showing various horizons from the base ay on 
which dwellings had been erected and occupied by the residents 
of the spot until some member of the household, probably the 
head, should die, when it was burned down with all its appurte- 
nances, the dead body included ; leaving a deposit of ashes W! 
incombustible stone implements to designate the location. 3 
The construction of the dwellings was studied out on the spot : 
and was found to.be for the most part of upright sticks or staves 
