Archeology und Anthropology. 559 
Connected with each communal structure is what Mr. Cushing 
aptly terms a pyral mound, since the bodies of the common class 
were burned and their possessions destroyed upon this spot. The 
deposited in the grave. This individual Mr. Cushing identified 
from his paraphernalia as belonging in all probability to the priest- 
hood of some war order, and this seems more probable when we 
come to examine the skeleton, for he had sustained a fracture of 
the arm, and one knee was stiff from anchylosis, no doubt the scars 
of hard-fought battles, 
Of the priestly burials something like four or five hundred were 
unearthed in the various towns, while many more of the cremated 
remains were found in the vicinity of the pyral mounds. The 
skeletons, as a rule, were so frail that comparatively few could be 
preserved. Of the whole number about one hundred good skulls, 
and probably fifty tolerably complete skeletons, were collected. 
These were so frail that Dr. Wortman was compelled to use a 
goodly supply of shellac varnish to keep them from falling to dust. 
Silicate of soda was tried, but it was not found so good as the ordi- 
nary shellac dissolved in alcohol. 
The objects which go to make up the collection are various, and 
consist of those of ornament and utility. - Numerous shell carv- 
ings, some of which had been beautifully inlaid with torquoise, 
were found, while a very few copper ornaments in the shape of 
bells and earrings were also dug up. Their tools consist almost 
nary pattern, and are generally well polished ; they are of various 
Sizes and shapes, and some of them were no doubt used as picks 
were also found in abundance. 
The collection of pottery is large, and, according to Mr. Cush- 
