roups of works, have been, by casual observers, called a fort. If we were not well acquainted with works of defence in Ohio and elsewhere, which show that the mound-builders were considerably advanced in military arts, we might suppose this was intended for a rude fortification; but we can only regard it as an accidental arrangement, and not designed for any such purpose.
Much of the ground about Waukesha was, in 1836, covered with Indian corn-hills, or remains of their recent culture of maize. In this locality, as at numerous others, the mounds occupy the highest ground and the points of hills and other places, whence the most extensive view, both above and below, can be obtained. The town of Waukesha stands on a slightly undulating plain, surrounded by hills, forming a fine amphitheatre, which, in ancient times, was doubtless crowded, as it is now, with a numerous population.
The mound marked a on the map (Plate XVIII.) was selected for examination; much of the earth having been removed by the town authorities, so as materially [page 28:] to lessen the labor. At about two feet above the original surface of the ground, the top of a circular wall or pile of stone, about nine feet in diameter, was discovered. It was composed of loose fragments of white limestone, which exhibited evidence of long contact with the earth, by their decayed and softened exterior. The wall was interrupted on the west side. (See Section, Plate XVIII.)
We commenced the exploration by opening a trench three feet wide, beginning on the east side of the original mound, deep enough to reach through the black and mottled earth of which the mound was composed, and to the surface of the yellowish clay subsoil. Continuing this trench towards the centre, we passed the loose stone wall, and found the black earth suddenly extending down about two feet below the natural surface of the ground, and reaching the gravel below the yellow clay. Upon this gravel, two feet below the original surface, directly under the centre of the mound, and surrounded by the circular heap of stone, was found a human skeleton, lying on its back, with The head towards the west. Stones had also been placed at the sides and over the body, forming a rude sort of coffin. The bones were very much decayed, and only fragments could be obtained. The plates of the skull were too far gone to be restored.
In the left hand was a pipe of baked clay or pottery, ornamented with holes around the bowl, and also a quantity of red paint. In the right hand was a smaller pipe, cut from a soft kind of stone. They are both very small, and appear to have been articles of fancy, rather than use. At the head were found many fragments of pottery which had been crushed by the weight of the earth; these fragments were originally portions of two vessels, which had the form represented in Fig. 8. They are of the same coarse and rude materials as the fragments so frequently found on and near the surface in many localities throughout the State. The earth immediately over the skeleton was hard and black, indicating the action of fire, though no other evidence of this was discovered. Fragments of fresh-water shells (of the genus Unio1) were found with the fragments of pottery. No wood was found, nor were any vacant places noticed where it might have decayed. Another mound was opened a short distance west of the first, by sinking a shaft in the centre five feet in diameter. We soon reached burnt clay, of a yellow or reddish-yellow color, with stones almost calcined into quicklime by the intensity of the heat. Much charcoal was obtained; showing still the original pores and concentric circles of the wood, which appeared to be oak. The bones of a portion of the leg of a human being were found; but the remainder of the skeleton had evidently been consumed at the time of the interment. There had been no excavation below the natural surface of the ground in this case.
The materials composing these mounds were taken from the surface, so that no perceptible excavations are left in their vicinity; and the whole body of the t