

12 THE MOUND BUILDERS OF TENNESSEE. 
their general outlines two of these crosses presented the | 1 
general contour of the human figure. The crosses appear E 
-~ to have been stamped upon the copper plates with a die. 
This grave also contained a remarkable vase, fashioned of 
à light yellow clay and crushed river shells, upon the sides 
of which were painted in black, three crosses, surrounded 
with three circles and three crowns. The rounded body 
the vase was accurately divided into three portions, by the 
black pigment disposed in three black bands, uniting at the 
base and neck of the vase, thus leaving three circular spaces 
upon the rounded sides, which were ornamented with the cen 
tral cross, an outer circle around each cross, while this cirel 
was again surmounted by the crown. Each crown had ten 
prominences or points. The superior portion of the neck — 
of the vase was arched and so turned as to form the mouth - 
horizontally. The summit of the vase terminated in a well 
‘shaped nipple. 
In a similar burjal mound within the same enclosure: 
amongst other most interesting relics, we discovered tw 
large v vases, marked in a sida manner, with three divisions 
Sete central crosses, three circles around the crosses, à 
three crowns. In these large vases the points of the crowns 
were drawn out so as to peiciuble spikes and thorns, and i 
one of the vases the ends of the thorns, or those portions 
which would form the circle of the crown are represented as- 
if plaited together. Two vases of similar construction were 
also exhumed, one with the head of a Spaniard, with a hel- 
met upon the crown. The resemblance of the features to. 
those of a Spanish Cavalier is wonderful. This small vessel | 
was used as a paint bowl, and still contains the red ochre. 
The other black vase is fastened on the summit after th 
manner of a hood. Another small idol fashioned of white 
clay, found in Middle Tennessee, painted with the same 
va pum and dressed l1 to represent 
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