24 BULLETIN, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE. [V,ol. III. 



ence of the many fire strata in the mounds, of the various crema- 

 tory altars, and of at least two large, special crematory mounds 13 , 

 together with partly consumed human bones, indicates that human 

 cremation was practiced, to some extent at least, and that it may 

 have, during one period in the history of these mounds, been the 

 prevailing custom. 



CREMATION 



The forms of cremation were : 



1. Total cremation, which of course leaves no evidence at pres- 

 ent. 



2. Partial cremation, possibly for ceremonial purposes, as is 

 evidenced by the subsequent burial of the partly burned remains 

 with the usual strata of ceremonial earths and fires. Such a burial is 

 illustrated in plate XII, fig. 1. 



3. Human sacrifice. The assumption of human sacrifices is 

 based upon the presence of partly consumed human bones on altars. 

 These instances are shown in plate IX, fig. 1, and in plate X, fig. 1. 



Total cremation is suggested both by the immense beds of ash 

 and by other fire remains, and also by the presence of human bones 

 so nearly consumed that they were almost in the form of ash. No 

 evidence can obviously be obtained as to the purpose or extent of 

 this total cremation, but the above mentioned thick layers of fire 

 strata would suggest that it may have at one time been a prevalent 

 custom here. 



Several instances were found of partial cremation. These ap- 

 peared to have been intentional and their purpose may have been 

 ceremonial in nature. It appears that these individuals, whoever 

 they may have been, were placed on a funeral pyre, or possibly on 

 one of the adjacent crematory mounds. Here they were subjected 

 to the partial action of fire, perhaps as a purification rite. The con- 

 dition of the bones themselves indicates that it was probably not 

 the intention to completely burn these bodies. None of these bones 

 showed the almost complete consumption of those found on the 

 crematory altars. They were apparently burned where the fire hap- 

 pened to strike that particular part of the body, thus com- 

 pletely consuming relatively small portions of it and leaving the re- 



13 One of these mounds was thirty-two feet in diameter and about four and a half feet thick 

 at its middle. It was composed almost entirely of a bed of charcoal and fire blackened 

 earth. 



