1889.] Archceology and Ethnology. 651 
of which in its turn may have erected mounds for burial purposes, 
religious purposes, points of observation, or for other uses. The word 
mound-builders, therefore, as generally used, is calculated to lead to 
error by the implication that the habit of mound building was pecuUar 
to one prehistoric race. In this paper the term mound-builder is 
applied to that prehistoric race (doubtless represented by numerous 
tribes) which, in ancient times, prior to the advent of the red Indians,* 
occupied much of that region now comprised within the bounds of the 
United States. 
The mounds near Old Chickasaw are situated upon the border of 
the first terrace of the stream, as shown in Fig. i, and which rises from 
twenty to forty-five feet above the flood plain at its base. Back from 
the first terrace, two hundred and sixty yards, is a second terrace, which 
rises sixteen or eighteen feet above the first one. 
The country back from this terrace increases gradually in height 
until within three-fourths of a mile it has attained an elevation varying 
from twenty feet to more than one hundred feet above the last bench. 
About two hundred and sixty yards to the southwest from the 
mounds, a never-failing spring of water issues forth from the base of the 
second terrace, and a short distance below a second one rises from the 
This entire region was formerly occupied by a heavy growth of 
timber; but much of it has now been cleared away by the settlers 
in opening up farms. The limited view (owing to the presence of 
timber) obtained from the site of these mounds, although pleasing, is 
yet far inferior to the beautiful and extensive scene afforded from the 
elevated land back from the stream a short distance. 
All the mounds of this series are circular, with oval tops, and 
have a diameter varying from twenty-two feet to fifty-one feet, and 
a height of from one and three-fourths feet to five feet. 
The distance between the different mounds is variable, being from 
two feet to fifty feet. 
The main line of mounds, as will be observed by referring to Fig. 
I, runs north a few degrees east. The remaining mounds are located 
approximate to and run parallel with the main line. In the centre of 
the first mound examined (No. 3) three human skeletons were found. 
These bodies, many of the bones of which were in a good state of 
preservation, had been placed on the original surface in a sitting pos- 
ture, and the mound reared over them. 
