164 
THE SCIENTIST. 
Written for the Seienti,^. 
Investig-ation of a Mound Near 
Jefferson City, Mo. 
By a. S. Logan. 
Recently, a party consisting of 
engineers and employes of the Mis- 
souri River Improvement Commis- 
sion began an exploration of one 
of the mounds, a work of a pre- 
historic race, situated on the bluff 
which overlooks the Missouri River 
Fic.a 
from an elevation of one hundred 
and fifty feet ; located about six 
miles below Jefferson City. 
This mound is one of about twenty 
embraced in a circle, one quarter of 
a mile in diameter. 
The above party selected the 
mound in question apparently at 
haphazard ; all the mounds present- 
ing nearly a uniform outline, differ- 
ing only in size and mostly circular 
in form, and from twenty to twenty- 
four feet at the base, rising to a 
height of eight feet and under. A 
trench was cut on a level with the 
natural soil, penetrating the mound 
about eight feet. A stone wall was 
encountered which was built very 
substantially, making access in that 
direction difficult, in consequence of 
which the earth was removed from 
the top for the purpose of entering 
from that direction. The earth was 
removed for a depth of four feet 
when the top of the wall was ex- 
posed. Further excavation brought 
to light human bones, some of them 
fairly well preserved, especially the 
bones of the legs. On the removal 
of these and a layer of clay, another 
layer of bones was exposed, but pre- 
senting a diff'erent appearance than 
the first, having evidently been 
burnt or charred, a considerable 
quantity of charcoal being mixed 
with the bones. In this tier were 
found portions of several skulls, 
lying close together, as if they had 
been interred without regard to 
order. They were, in all probabil- 
ity, detached from the body when 
buried. 
The portions of the skulls found 
were those of the back of the head, 
no frontal bones being discovered. 
Some jaw bones with the teeth 
attached were among the remains, 
but only that portion of the jaw 
containing the molar teeth. 
A few pieces of Hint weapons 
were found in the upper layers, and 
nothing else of any significance. 
