The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-09

The Mcrriweather mound is situated
about one mile froui the Ohio rver, and nearly
opposite Mound City ON the Kentucky side. Ii
"a about nifty feet in height. Il 1t on top. mea.
sures at the base about one hundred feet, md
Ia nearly circular with the sides siouing 10
give diameter On top 81 thirty-nvc feet.
We commenced work by running a trench four
feet deep oy as many wide from north q south
through this Hat top. In doing 50 We removed
six skeletons. which seemed TO nave been placed
there regardless II position. except that they
were all lace up. They were AT H., I angles with
eaon otuer, on top, doubled up, and lyInZ around
reckie~siy generally. Each one had an earthern
vessel paced against tue rtvut esr. Inerc was
but one exception TO tits rule. The SIX, letous
were fur deconlposed That we were only aple
to carry on two specimens of craula, and they
were only that portion above a horizontal line
with the eyes-when placed upright. From
measurements taken from the thigh bones We
inferred these peon,e could not n We been more
IN n four feet five inches In height, The
skulls were much smaller than those ~
persons OF the same helsnt OF TO-DAY, and
much lower aud more rounding in the fore
head, also very HAT on the back. | do not think
they are near 80 thick ar a white mans skuil.
The pottery vessels spoken OF were If various
sizes ana designs, holding from a nm up 30
three pints, rOund on the bottom sinl to
cocOanut cup the openings nave ~ turned
out equally oil around ana ruuelN ornamenteu
with hutlngs aud small raised handles. ihey
are made from clay mixed vita pulNerzed river
or sea shells ami nre baked.
After finishing the trench running north and
south We opened another the same size from
eas. TO west. In TINS We found four skeletons.
with vessels AS described. On going deeper
some two feet we came upon wn1l appeared 70
he a furnace. II was IN the form Of an ordinary
bath Tub, and lined two inches thick with red
clay baked hard after having been spread on.
You could see no difference between thls Inning
material ana tue common building Otlck III Use
now. This furnace Ave feet IN length 10y
two feet deep and VIDE. Charcoal was found
scattered around II ~ abundance, ana some cal
cined bones
We found scattered about IN different places
the following articles: one stone pipe with A
human face carved on 10; one stone needle four
inches lonl aud the size Of "a sail needle of That
length; piece OF broken stone image conthln-
Ing "A very lair representation Of the human lace
and a tuTbaned mead, the knot Immediately in
front; a pottery ware IMAGE OF an uunedEed
OWL about the size OF your thumb. We were
unaule to get out whole more than two Of the
eartnen vessels spoken Of on account OF the
roots OF trees having crowded them TO pieces
aud IN one Instance we found thredd-like root
following the hollow Of Il thigh bone clear
through, coming out at the knee.
We brought away specimens of pottery, and
they are as various IN their material and manu-
factuTe MS the same class Of wares Of to-day.
Some are simply red clay sun-bnked, and others
OF various degrees of hardness up 10 an appa-
rent stone cement.