1919] BARRETT AND HAWKES, KRATZ CREEK MOUNDS. 75 



across the lake. It may be a curious type, peculiar to this vicinity. 

 Like No. 23, it was very low, about 0.9 of a foot above the surface 

 level, or 19.94 feet above mean lake level. The stratification again 

 was similar to that of the mounds previously mentioned. 



Mound No. 25 has the shape of an unfinished bear and is similar 

 to the other bear mounds in this older line near the lake shore. 

 The legs are relatively short, and the head very small. This mound 

 is also very low, being from 0.87 to 0.55 feet above the ground 

 level, or 19.74 feet above mean lake level on the average. The 

 stratification was slightly different from the preceding, a stratum 

 of dark yellow sand taking the place of the mottled sandy clay. This 

 arrangement, however, is similar to the stratification in mound No. 

 26, which lies immediately to the east. 



Mound No. 26, the last of the series, is a small, low conical, 15 

 feet in diameter and having an elevation above mean lake level of 

 20.14 feet. Like the others, it contains no fire layer, and has two 

 simple strata. 



From the above facts one may conclude that these mounds form 

 a unit as far as absence of fire remains and arrangement of stratifica- 

 tion are concerned. Also that they represent two distinct stages in 

 the development of the effigy forms from the conical. 



MOUND No. 27 



This mound was a great crematory altar standing somewhat 

 apart from the other mounds of the group and situated on the 

 edge of the bank overlooking the lake. It was composed largely 

 of a deep fire stratum 32 feet in diameter and 4 feet thick. It had 

 a diameter of 36 feet, and an elevation above mean lake level of 

 22.94 feet, or 3.5 feet above the surrounding level on the uphill 

 side and 5.6 feet on the downhill side. Underneath this was a layer 

 of bright yellow sand, then four pairs of alternate strata of red 

 sandy clay and golden sand. Our excavation was not carried down 

 to the subsoil and the exact bottom of the mound consequently was 

 not determined. It is certain, however, that it extended some dis- 

 tance below the level of the surrounding land. 



The top had been dug to a depth of about 4 feet. Our excava- 

 tion went down to a depth of 7.7 feet below the top of the mound, 

 but nothing was discovered to indicate its use other than as a great 

 crematory altar. A small shell deposit was found in the southeast 

 portion of the mound. 



