In my examination I discovered a mound about 80 rods south of the fort which bore no evidence of ever having been disturbed, and, in company with Mr. J. I. Gibbs, of Vermont, and Thomas Belrose, of Wedron, Ill., gentlemen interested in archæology, made an examination of its contents. About 2 feet from the surface we discovered charcoal in quite large quantities, and the skull, thigh bones, a fragment of the collar bone, and one joint of the vertebra of what had once been a member of the human family. Underneath was a number of granitic bowlders of quite large size, placed in a circular form, inside of which was found charcoal. Were I to give an opinion, I should say that the fact of finding but a small portion of the skeleton and charcoal in so large quantity is conclusive evidence to me of cremation. The skull was very narrow, with a rapidly sloping forehead, extremely heavy under jaw, and large teeth. The skull retained its shape but a few moments, when it crumbled in pieces. It was, when discovered, lying with the face nearly downward, and the head to the east.
MOUNDS IN HENRY AND STARK COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
By T. M. Shallenberger, of Cambridge, Ill.
The locations of the mounds referred to in the title of this paper are indicated on the two accompanying plats. The first gives an outline of Henry and Stark Counties. The plat marked A is 1½ miles south-west of Cambridge, and is more fully illustrated in plat No. 2.
At B is a group of fourteen mounds, 1 mile east of Cambridge, still unexplored.
In Peoria County, at the location marked C, is a large conical mound on the river bottom, which was excavated by the writer, but nothing of value was found, inasmuch as it had been previously opened. No doubt a body had been interred in this mound, since the slab which had lain over it was still there, and the ground at the original surface was burned hard. Two other flat stones close by had been probably taken from the mound, there being no other stones in the mound which could have been used to support the slab before mentioned. There are no other mounds in the vicinity.
At D is a mound still unexplored. It is situated in West Jersey Township, and is yet 4 feet high, although it has been cultivated for several years.
The point marked E is a salt marsh, and would in all probability yield relics of prehistoric salt works and mastodon bones. Fragments of pottery have been discovered here already, but the exploration of this spot would be attended with considerable expense.
