1919] BARRETT AND HAWKES, KRATZ CREEK MOUNDS. 33 



a predominance of cremation, an almost total absence of burial, and 

 the complete absence of pottery and implements. With these fea- 

 tures is associated to a very marked degree the overlaying fire as a 

 final surface stratum covering, in most cases, the entire mound. 



The mounds in the second and presumably later line, farther 

 back from the lake shore, bore directly, in most instances, on the 

 big conical burial mound No. 1. They were characterized by burials 

 in the flesh, by more elaborate stratification and by the absence of 

 the large crematory altar mounds. Also by partial cremation, 

 which, as before suggested, may represent a ceremonial survival of 

 the older custom of complete cremation found in the section nearer 

 the lake shore. A few scattered flaked points and some pottery were 

 found in these mounds in connection with burials and altars. 



The condition of the skeletal remains in this second series of 

 mounds showed considerable age, but the few fragmentary remains 

 found in the mounds near the lake shore were very much more de- 

 composed, which points to the greater age of this section of the 

 group. The aged condition of these remains becomes even more 

 significant when we take into account the fact that nearly all the 

 soils here are essentially sandy and that the whole site is well ele- 

 vated and drained. 



When all these outstanding features are considered it appears 

 highly probable that the Kratz Creek group was constructed at a 

 time antedating, by some centuries at least, the discovery of Amer- 

 ica and the advent of the whites. Further, their construction ex- 

 tended over a sufficient period of time to permit at least two suc- 

 cessive periods of building, showing rather marked differences and 

 perhaps representing different cultures. The apparently older type 

 represents possibly the original culture of the Fox river valley while 

 the later type may be due to the subsequent occupation of the val- 

 ley by another people, possibly of a related stock. This second cul- 

 ture, however, differed from the latest prehistoric culture of the re- 

 gion as is shown by the differences between the implements and 

 pottery of the later mounds in this group and those of the village 

 sites of this region. Particularly is this shown by the absence of 

 copper in any form in the mounds, whereas it is quite extensively 

 found in the surface remains of this vicinity. 



Only further research in this field can determine definitely the 

 possible extent and limits of these three cultures. In making these 

 studies, however, it should be borne in mind that from the very 



