The Problem of Ohio Mounds | Page 8

bring to light the ashes and hearth that mark the place
where the fire was built, and occasionally unearth fragments of the
vessels used in cooking, the bones of animals on whose flesh the
inmates fed, and other articles pertaining to domestic use.
During the explorations of the Bureau in southeastern Missouri and
Arkansas, finding the remains of houses in low, flat mounds was a
common occurrence. Although the wood in most cases had disappeared,
what had not been converted to coals and ashes having rotted away, yet
the size and form, and, in part, the mode of construction, were clearly
indicated. The hard-tramped, circular, earthen floor gave the size and
form; the numerous fragments of burnt clay forming a layer over the
floor--often taken by explorers for brick-revealed the method of
plastering their dwellings; the charred remains of grass and twigs
showed that it had been strengthened by this admixture; the
impressions left on the inner face of these lumps of burnt plastering
revealed the character of the lathing, which was in some cases branches

and twigs, but in others split cane. The roof was thatched with grass or
matting, the charred remains of which were found in more than one
instance. In probably nine cases out of ten it was apparent these
dwellings had been burned. This was found to be due to the custom of
burying the dead in the floor and burning the dwelling over them,
covering the remains with dirt often before the fire had ceased burning.
As a general rule the strata are found in this order: (1) a top layer of soil
from 1 foot to 2 feet thick; (2) a layer of burnt clay from 3 to 12 inches
thick (though usually varying from 4 to 8 inches) and broken into
lumps, never in a uniform, unbroken layer; immediately below this (3)
a thin layer of hardened muck or dark clay, though this does not always
seem to be distinct. At this depth in the mounds of the eastern part of
Arkansas are usually found one or more skeletons.
Take, for example, the following statement by Dr. Edward Palmer in
regard to these beds:
As a general and almost universal rule, after removing a foot or two of
top soil, a layer of burnt clay in a broken or fragmentary condition
would be found, sometimes with impressions of grass or twigs, and
easily crumbled, but often hard, and stamped, apparently, with an
implement made of split reeds of comparatively large size. This layer
was often a foot thick, and frequently burned to a brick-red or even to
clinkers. Below this would be found more or less ashes, and often 6
inches of charred grass immediately over the skeletons. These skeletons
were found lying in all directions, some with the face up, others with it
down, and others on the side. With each of these were one or more
vessels of clay.
Remains of rectangular houses were also discovered, though much less
frequent than other forms. These consisted of three rooms, two in front
and one in rear. For example, Dr. Palmer found in a broad platform like
elevation not more than 3 feet high the remains of a house of this form
which he traced by the burnt clay. The lines of the upright walls were
very apparent, as also the clay which must have fallen from them, and
which raised the outer marginal lines considerably higher than the inner
area. Dr. Palmer remarks:

The fire must have been very fierce, and the clay around the edges was
evidently at some height above the door, as I judge from the irregular
way in which it is scattered around the margins.
Excavations in the areas showed that they were covered with a layer of
burnt clay, uneven and broken; immediately below this a layer of ashes
6 inches thick, and below this black loam. On these areas large trees
were growing, one a poplar 3 feet in diameter. Below one of these
floors were found a skeleton, some pottery, and a pipe. A large oak
formerly stood at this point, but it has been blown down.
Subsequently the remains of another dwelling of precisely the same
form, that is, two square rooms joined and a third of the same size
immediately behind these two, were discovered in the same region by
Colonel Norris. In this case remnants of the upright posts and reed
lathing forming the walls were found, also the clay plastering.
Prof. G. C. Swallow [Footnote: 8th Rept. Peabody Museum, 1875, pp.
17, 18.] describes a room formed of poles, lathed with split cane,
plastered with clay both inside and out, which he found in a mound in
southeastern Missouri. Colonel Norris found parts of the decayed poles,
plastering, and other remains of