1919] BARRETT AND HAWKES, KRATZ CREEK MOUNDS. 85 



below the top of the mound, and 3.44 below the surface level of 

 the ground. Three fire strata were encountered in this excavation, 

 each underlayed by the ceremonial light yellow sand. The strata 

 from the top to the bottom of the excavation were as follows : 



Surface 18.25 



Loam . 17.75 



Fire remains 17.15 



Fire-blackened sand 16.35 



Fire remains 15.85 



Mottled dark yellow sand 15.20 



Clear light yellow sand 14.35 



Fire remains 13.95 



Light yellow sand (gray cast) 12.55 



Bottom of Mound: 



Red-banded light yellow sand 12.15 



Blue and red clay 10.75 



The presence of these three pairs of ceremonial sand and fire 

 strata unaccompanied by a burial is difficult to explain. Likewise 

 the depth of the excavation which was another evidence of the 

 probable presence of a burial in most of these mounds. However, 

 no bones, either buried in the flesh or partly cremated, were en- 

 countered. These fire strata may represent the full cremation of 

 one or more individuals, which, of course, left no visible traces. 

 A shell altar was found on the west side of the excavation. In 

 other mounds, this type of altar also usually accompanied a burial. 

 Smaller excavations were made in the hip of this panther and also 

 in both legs, so it is not probable that a burial was missed. One 

 must conclude, then, that, with the possible exception of total 

 cremation, the mound builders used the ceremonial fire and sand 

 strata here for other than burial purposes. 



The great top fire, as previously mentioned, appears to be the 

 most notable feature in these mounds, and to mark the crowning 

 ceremony in their completion. In the case of this panther mound, 

 the top fire stratum covers the entire body, and runs down the 

 long tail for 160 feet, giving a fire 225 feet in length. This fire 

 v/as 25 feet wide on the body and from 12 to 4 feet wide on the tail. 

 It averaged a foot in depth. These figures give a slight conception 



