22 BULLETIN, PUBLIC MUSEUM, MILWAUKEE. [Vol. III. 



In the Kratz Creek group of mounds six classes of sacrifice were 

 found : 



1. The use of sacrificial earths, which was the most common. 



2. The sacrifice of perishable property, either deposited or 

 cremated, which was also very common. 



3. The sacrifice of food stuffs in pottery vessels, which was 

 rather rare. 



4. The animal sacrifice, also rare. 



5. The sacrifice of implements, including archaic points, which 

 is found to a very slight extent. 



6. The human sacrifice, which seems to have been used in a 

 few instances. See plate IX, fig. 1, and plate X, fig. 1. 



These various sacrifices were placed : 



1. With the burial itself; below, around, or directly above it. 



2. Between successive strata as the mound was constructed. 



3. Upon special altars. 



4. Upon the surface of a mound, and especially as burnt offer- 

 ings in the great surface fire which often marked the completion of 

 such a mound 12 . 



It is evident from the above that the two most important ele- 

 ments of sacrifice used by these mound builders were the sacrificial 

 earths and sacrificial fires. The close correlation and association of 

 the two in their religious ceremonies is shown by the fact that they 

 were placed as alternate strata in the construction of nearly all the 

 mounds. Further, most of the mounds, particularly those with in- 

 taglio foundations, were begun with one or more layers of these 

 special sacrificial earths as a ceremonial foundation and were fin- 

 ished with a great ceremonial fire. 



Both were associated directly with burials, being placed under, 

 around, or directly over them. In several mounds there were four 

 layers of each alternating regularly above the burial. 



In one instance a distinct fire ring was found encircling a burial. 

 No corresponding rings of sacrificial earth were encountered in this 

 mound, though in mound No. 1 a comparable ring of earth was 

 found encircling the entire burial pit and altars of the mound. 



In another instance there had been a series of small fires ar- 

 ranged in a circle slightly above a burial and outlining its position, 

 while in still another several small fires were placed in a line at 



12 As previously mentioned certain mounds were themselves special sacrificial altars used 

 solely for the deposition or cremation of sacrifices. 



