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Burial in Mounds
In view of the fact that the
subject of mound-burial is so extensive, and that in all probability a
volume by a member of the Bureau of Ethnology may shortly be published,
it is not deemed advisable to devote any considerable space to it in
this paper, but a few interesting examples may be noted to serve as
indications to future observers.
The first to which attention is directed is interesting
as resembling cist-burial combined with deposition in mounds. The
communication is from Prof. F. W. Putnam, curator of the Peabody Museum
of Archeology, Cambridge, made to the Boston Society of Natural History,
and is published in volume XX of its proceedings, October 15, 1878:
"He then stated that it would be of interest to the
members, in connection with the discovery of dolmens in Japan, as
described by Professor Morse, to know that within twenty-four hours
there had been received at the Peabody Museum a small collection of
articles taken from rude dolmens (or chambered barrows, as they would be
called in England), recently opened by Mr. E. Curtiss, who is now
engaged, under his direction, in exploration for the Peabody Museum.
"These chambered mounds are situated in the eastern
part of Clay County, Missouri, and form a large group on both sides of
the Missouri River. The chambers are, in the three opened by Mr.
Curtiss, about 8 feet square, and from 4-1/2 to 5 feet high, each
chamber having a passage-way several feet in length and 2 in width
leading from the southern side and opening on the edge of the mound
formed by covering the chamber and passage-way with earth. The walls of
the chambered passages were about 2 feet thick, vertical, and well made
of stones, which were evenly laid without clay or mortar of any kind.
The top of one of the chambers had a covering of large, flat rocks, but
the others seem to have been closed over with wood. The chambers were
filled with clay which had been burnt, and appeared as if it had fallen
in from above. The inside walls of the chambers also showed signs of
fire. Under the burnt clay, in each chamber, were found the remains of
several human skeletons, all of which had been burnt to such an extent
as to leave but small fragments of the bones, which were mixed with the
ashes and charcoal. Mr. Curtiss thought that in one chamber he found the
remains of 5 skeletons and in another 13. With these skeletons there
were a few flint implements and minute fragments of vessels of clay.
"A large mound near the chambered mounds was also
opened, but in this no chambers were found. Neither had the bodies been
burnt. This mound proved remarkably rich in large flint implements, and
also contained well-made pottery and a peculiar "gorget" of red stone.
The connection of the people who placed the ashes of their dead in the
stone chambers with those who buried their dead in the earth mounds is,
of course, yet to be determined."
It is quite possible, indeed probable, that these
chambers were used for secondary burials, the bodies having first been
cremated.
In the volume of the proceedings already quoted the
same investigator gives an account of other chambered mounds which are,
like the preceding, very interesting, the more so as adults only were
inhumed therein, children having been buried beneath the
dwelling-floors:
"Mr. F. W. Putnam occupied the rest of the evening with
an account of his explorations of the ancient mounds and burial places
in the Cumberland Valley, Tennessee.
"The excavations had been carried on by himself,
assisted by Mr. Edwin Curtiss, for over two years, for the benefit of
the Peabody Museum at Cambridge. During this time many mounds of various
kinds had been thoroughly explored, and several thousand of the singular
stone graves of the mound builders of Tennessee had been carefully
opened.... Mr. Putnam's remarks were illustrated by drawings of several
hundred objects obtained from the graves and mounds, particularly to
show the great variety of articles of pottery and several large and many
unique forms of implements of chipped flint. He also exhibited and
explained in detail a map of a walled town of this old nation. This town
was situated on the Lindsley estate, in a bend of Spring Creek. The
earth embankment, with its accompanying ditch, encircled an area of
about 12 acres. Within this enclosure there was one large mound with a
flat top, 15 feet high, 130 feet long, and 90 feet wide, which was found
not to be a burial mound. Another mound near the large one, about 50
feet in diameter, and only a few feet high, contained 60 human
skeletons, each in a carefully-made stone grave, the graves being
arranged in two rows, forming the four sides of a square, and in three
layers.... The most important discovery lie made within the enclosure
was that of finding the remains of the houses of the people who lived in
this old town. Of them about 70 were traced out and located on the map
by Professor Buchanan, of Lebanon, who made the survey for Mr. Putnam.
Under the floors of hard clay, which was in places much burnt, Mr.
Putnam found the graves of children. As only the bodies of adults had
been placed in the one mound devoted to burial, and as nearly every site
of a house he explored had from one to four graves of children under the
clay floor, he was convinced that it was a regular custom to bury the
children in that way. He also found that the children had been
undoubtedly treated with affection, as in their small graves were found
many of the best pieces of pottery he obtained, and also quantities of
shell-beads, several large pearls, and many other objects which were
probably the playthings of the little ones while living." [Footnote: A
detailed account of this exploration, with many illustrations, will be
found in the Eleventh Annual Report of the Peabody Museum, Cambridge,
1878.]
This cist mode of burial is by no means uncommon in
Tennessee, as they are frequently mentioned by writers on North American
archaeology.
The examples which follow are specially characteristic,
some of them serving to add strength to the theory that mounds were for
the most part used for secondary burial, although intrusions were
doubtless common.
Of the burial mounds of Ohio, Caleb Atwater [Footnote:
Trans. Amer. Antiq. Soc., 1820, i, p. 174 et seq.] gives this
description.
"Near the center of the round fort ... was a tumulus of
earth about 10 feet in height and several rods in diameter at its base.
On its eastern side, and extending six rods from it, was a semicircular
pavement composed of pebbles such as are now found in the bed of the
Scioto River, from whence they appear to have been brought. The summit
of this tumulus was nearly 30 feet in diameter, and there was a raised
way to it, leading from the east, like a modern turnpike. The summit was
level. The outline of the semicircular pavement and the walk is still
discernible. The earth composing this mound was entirely removed several
years since. The writer was present at its removal and carefully
examined the contents. It contained:
"1st. Two human skeletons lying on what had been the original
surface of the earth.
"2d. A great quantity of arrow-heads, some of which were so large
as to induce a belief that they were used as spear-heads.
"3d. The handle either of a small sword or a large knife, made of
an elk's horn. Around the end where the blade had been inserted was a
ferule of silver, which, though black, was not much injured by time.
Though the handle showed the hole where the blade had been inserted, yet
no iron was found, but an oxyde remained of similar shape and size.
"4th. Charcoal and wood ashes on which these articles lay, which
were surrounded by several bricks very well burnt. The skeleton appeared
to have been burned in a large and very hot fire, which had almost
consumed the bones of the deceased. This skeleton was deposited a little
to the south of the center of the tumulus; and about 20 feet to the
north of it was another, with which were--
"5th. A large mirrour about 3 feet in breadth and 1-1/2
inches in thickness This mirrour was of isinglass (_mica membranacea_),
and on it--
"6th. A plate of iron which had become an oxyde, but before it was
disturbed by the spade resembled a plate of cast iron. The mirrour
answered the purpose very well for which it was intended. This skeleton
had also been burned like the former, and lay on charcoal and a
considerable quantity of wood ashes. A part of the mirrour is in my
possession, as well as a piece of brick taken from the spot at the time.
The knife or sword handle was sent to Mr. Peal's Museum at Philadelphia.
"To the southwest of this tumulus, about 40 rods from
it, is another, more than 90 feet in height, which is shown on the plate
representing these works. It stands on a large hill, which appears to be
artificial. This must have been the common cemetery, as it contains an
immense number of human skeletons of all sizes and ages. The skeletons
are laid horizontally, with their heads generally towards the center and
the feet towards the outside of the tumulus. A considerable part of this
work still stands uninjured, except by time. In it have been found,
besides these skeletons, stone axes and knives and several ornaments,
with holes through them, by means of which, with a cord passing through
these perforations they could be worn by their owners. On the south side
of this tumulus, and not far from it, was a semicircular fosse, which,
when I first saw it, was 6 feet deep. On opening it was discovered at
the bottom a great quantity of human bones, which I am inclined to
believe were the remains of those who had been slain in some great and
destructive battle first, because they belonged to persons who had
attained their full size, whereas in the mound adjoining were found the
skeletons of persons of all ages, and, secondly, they were here in the
utmost confusion, as if buried in a hurry. May we not conjecture that
they belonged to the people who resided in the town, and who were
victorious in the engagement? Otherwise they would not have been thus
honorably buried in the common cemetery."
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