1884.] Grave Mounds in North Carolina and East Tennessee. 233 
the bottom of the hole, converging, after a height of four feet was 
reached, so as to be covered at the top by a single soapstone rock 
of moderate size. On the top of the head of the skeleton, and 
immediately under the capstone of the vault, were found several 
plates of silver mica which had evidently been cut with some 
rude implement. Although the bones were much decayed, yet 
they were retained in position by the dirt which filled the vault, 
an indication that the flesh had been removed before burial, and 
the vault filled with dirt as it was built up. 
re 2. 3,4. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, although walled around in a 
similar manner, were in a sitting posture on the bottom of the 
pit. In the grave of No. 2 was found a polished celt; in that of 
No. 3 a single discoidal stone; in that of No. 6 two polished 
celts, and immediately over No. 9 a pitted stone. 
Nos. 11, 12 and 13 are three skeletons in a squatting posture 
ms no wall around them, and unaccompanied by relics of any 
ind, 
Nos. 14 and 15 are two unenclosed skeletons lying horizontally 
. full length. With the former some pieces of broken soapstone 
Pipes were found, and with the latter one polished celt. 
No. 16, an unenclosed squatter, was of unusually large size, 
not less than seven feet high when living. Near the mouth was 
an uninjured soapstone pipe; the legs were extended in a south- 
‘ast direction upon a bed of burnt earth. 
The faces of all the squatting skeletons were turned away from 
= Standing central one. 
At “a” was found a considerable quantity of black paint in little 
lumps which appear to have been molded in the hull of some nut. 
At“B” was a cubical mass of water-worn boulders, built up solidly 
and symmetrically, twenty-four inches long, eighteen inches wide 
and eighteen inches high, but with no bones, specimens of art, 
coal, ashes, or indications of fire on or around it. On the con- 
» Many of the stones of the vaults and the earth immediately 
Ne them bore unmistakable evidences of fire ; in fact the heat 
tons se ae left its mark on the bones of the enclosed skele- 
bu: i amither indication that the flesh had been removed before 
nal, either by previous burial or otherwise. 
ered through the dirt which filled the pit were small pieces 
so aa charcoal. The bottom and sides of the pit were 
‘y marked that they could be traced without difficulty- 
