Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-09-21

through which the hand could be inserted, and
the infant thus carried in a swinging position.
But usually strap was passed through this
hole, and brought across the forehead of the
mother (thus, ever the "ehild-5earer''-for the
father-savage disdained to be accused of
collaborating, ")-or it was set up on its
board in the large pannier in which she car
ried all her household stuff, and perhaps sew
eral puppies. When, in journeying, this bur-
den-bearer rested, she would lean the
board and child against the body of tree
or whatsoever was convenient. In this posi-
ton are tender infants fastened, carried or de-
posted for months,-and thus we believe that
most of these fiat heads have been formed.
In the graves upon the point of the ridge
near the river bluff, we found several skele-
tons at full length: Such as Mr. McGavock,
says he never saw in any other part of the
grounds.
There is no regard paid TO the points of the
compass in the construction of these graves.
In opening one which lay east and west. we
encountered another laying north and south.
and Immediately over the head and shoulders
of the skeleton at the feet of which we had
commenced digging. In some places the skel-
tons seem to have been placed in circular
radial position-heads together and feet and
legs extending, or vice versa.
But have extended these remarks perhaps
unreasonably; and yet, before 1 close, must
urge not only further examination of these
burial places, but of the locality in Neely's
Bend, on the farm of Mrs. Harris, where many
small and one large image in stone, and other
curious articles have been discovered 1t is
regarded as the place where the peculiar pot
terry of the aborigines was moulded and
| burned.
The only article which Mrs. Harris had re-
| tanned, of the multitude in her possession with
In the last ten years, she has presented to the
Society. 1t is a stone neatly polished and
rounded, an inch and three quarters in thick
ness at the thickest part of the rim, its diane
ter is five and half inches; on each side it is
| concave to the depth of nearly three-fourths
of an inch, and the concave places on each
side are made with remarkable uniformity,
| each three and quarter inches in diameter
at the outer edge or rim of the cup-like hol-
low, and in each at the bottom of the cup a
neat little indentation of the size of a shil-
ling.
This belongs to the class of Indian antiqui-
ties known as "Discoidal Stones" They are
found throughout the Southern country and
in Peru. The suggestion that these were used
for the purpose of mortars in which to grind
paints, is probably true in this instance.
fit had been used as quot or in any game
there would in all probability, have been evil
dences of such use, in bruises and marks defac-
ing the smooth surface.
Many illustrations, with accompanying re-
marks on the Discoidal Stones. may he found
in "Schoolcraft's History of the Indian Tribes
of the United States, and in the 1st vol. of the
Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge
being E. G. Squier and E. H. Davis's work on
the Ancient Monuments of the Mississippi
Valley.
To what use these and similar stones were
applied we have no idea.
Respectfully,
A w. PUTNAM
August 81, 1858.