Miscellaneous Papers Relating to Anthropology/Explorations in Mounds in Whitesides and La Salle Counties, Illinois

by J. D. Moody

EXPLORATIONS IN MOUNDS IN WHITESIDES AND LA SALLE COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

By J. D. Moody, Mendota, Ill.

The explorations noted in Plan I, wore made at different times in company with Dr. Everett, of Troy Grove, and Dr. Edwards, of Mendota, Ill. Those noted in Plan III, were made in company with Prof. Samuel Maxwell, of Lyndon, Ill.

 

Plan I.

 

The "find" noted in Plan II, was made by some workman while digging for gravel.

 

The location of Plan I is about 4 miles in a southeasterly direction from the village of Troy Grove, La Salle County, Illinois. It is about 10 miles north of the village of Utica, on the Illinois River, near which was situated the great town of the Illini Indians, famous in the early history of Illinois.

All of the mounds discovered were situated on the bluffs on the eastern side of Vermillion Creek, at small stream flowing into the Illinois River.

No. 1 was a circular depression about 12 feet in diameter and 1 foot deep at the center. On trenching it we found evidence of a long-continued fire-place in the baked clay, burned stones, and fragments of charcoal, evidently the site of an Indian's fireside.

No. 2 was a mound 15 feet in diameter and 4 feet high, occupying a commanding position on a high bluff projecting out into the valley. The view from this point is a fine one, commanding the valley for miles in either direction. On opening the mound we made the following discoveries: In the center and just under the sod we found a great quantity of burnt bones, human and animal,—the latter those of dogs or wolves. From a careful examination of the fragments of skulls, we determined the remains of nine individuals. There was no evidence of fire in the soil. They had been placed there in comparatively recent times after having been elsewhere cremated. Along with these bones were found a few perfect arrow-points, numerous fragments, and a rude stone pipe fashioned somewhat like a spool.

On digging deeper, just below the original surface of the ground, was found a skeleton lying upon its back, with the feet toward the west. It was of an individual of average height and advanced in years, as indicated by the absorption of the alveoli and the angle of the inferior maxillary. The arms were extended along the body. The frontal development of the skull was of a low order, more so than is found in the Indian, and yet not so much so as is usually ascribed to the mound-builder. This was the only burial in a horizontal position discovered in this locality. A very careful examination of the soil about the head and upper parts of the body failed to bring to light any relics whatever. The burial was in a compact dry clay, and the bones in a crumbling condition.

No. 3 was a burial place on the point of the same bluff just spoken of. Nothing but bones were found in it, the remains of several individuals. One skull was taken out in good condition, lacking the inferior maxillary. The bones still preserved quite a portion of the animal matter, and indicated a comparatively late burial, presumably Indian.

No. 4 was a circular depression but a few feet in diameter, evidently, from the burnt stones, being a fire-place.

No. 5 was a mound about 10 feet in diameter and 2£ feet high. It had been opened a short time before our visit and a few bones taken out. From the description we received we could form no idea as to the character of the interment. No implements of any kind were found.

No. 6, on a broad flat in the bend of the creek, is the remains of an Indian encampment; numerous fire-places just beneath the surface of the ground, broken flints, &c., being found.

No. 7 is a group of three mounds. Having been plowed over for years, they were nearly obliterated. The remains in mounds b and c were alike, each containing the bones of several individuals thrown in promiscuously. They were not burned, yet each mound contained great quantities of ashes and bits of charcoal. The bones crumbled on the slightest touch, and presented the appearance of having been leached. In mound a one skeleton in tolerable preservation was found. It had been buried in a sitting posture. Near the head was found a large mussel-shell filled with what appeared to be paint. A little to one side and at bottom of excavation was an ash-pile with about one peck of charcoal in the center of it. Neither ornaments nor implements were found. This group was evidently Indian in origin.

No. 8 is a mound 35 feet in diameter and 5 feet high. Though regular in outline and occupying a commanding position, yet from our examination of its structure we considered its artificial origin as doubtful.

No. 9 is a mound 12 feet in diameter. In it was found one skeleton very much decayed, and near the head a very rude earthern bowl, holding about one pint.

No other mounds are found in the vicinity. Scattered over the bluffs and fields are found quantities of broken pottery, arrow-points, flint chippings, stone axes, &c. A copper spear-point was also found in the vicinity. From my examination of them, I assign to them an origin and date, with possibly the exception of the horizontal burial in No. 2, as of the Illini Indians, and of about the beginning of the seventeenth century.

Plan II is located 4 miles southwest of the city of La Salle, on Cedar Creek, a small stream flowing into the Illinois River from the south. There were three graves two and a half feet deep, on a gravel point projecting out from the ridge. No mounds had been erected over them. They were close together. They were discovered by some laborers while digging for gravel. One of them, possessing a little curiosity, gathered up the bones and relics. One body was deposited in each grave, and in a recumbent position. The relics found consisted of several simple, rude pipes cut from sandstone, a few shell beads, arrow-points, and the fragments of a curious vase, holding, when reconstructed, about four ounces, and representing a man sitting on his knees, with hands folded across the abdomen. The opening was at the back of the head. It was composed of clay and powdered shells baked. The face presents strongly-marked Aztec features, or possibly an exceptional Indian countenance. The bones were very much decayed, with the exception of one side of one inferior maxillary. This was well preserved, and stained a deep green color. Not understanding the import of this, the laborers missed finding a copper implement of some kind. No other remains were found in the vicinity.

 

Plan II.

 

Plan III is a singular group of mounds 3 miles from Spring Hill post-office, Whiteside County, Illinois. The bluffs along Rock River are covered with mounds. This group, however, is on the alluvial bottom, about 30 rods from the river. Though there may be others on the lowlands, yet these are the only ones I found so situated. This group is in a semicircular form, in quite regular lines, as will be seen by a reference to the plan. They are on a plat of ground a little higher than the surrounding level. They are surrounded on three sides by a slough, in earlier times probably communicating with the river, and this may have had some influence in shaping the crescent form of the arrangement. However, being on the ground, the impression cannot be resisted that there was some special design in the grouping.

While most of the mounds were round and of varying size, some of them were long and narrow. The figures inside the circles indicate the dimensions of the larger ones in paces (2½ feet to the pace). Their relative sizes are preserved in the diagram. The ground is covered with timber. A stump standing on one of the mounds indicated an age of over two hundred years. The soil was a very hard, sandy clay.

 

Plan III.

 

The space A of the diagram was inclosed and used as a hog-lot. None of the mounds were over three feet high. Nos. 1, 5, 4, and 7 were opened, but nothing whatever was found. In No. 2 we found no bones, but two rude vessels, holding about one quart each, made of clay and coarse sand molded on the inside of a grass basket and then burned, as evidenced by the impressions of the grass on the outside. No. 3 contained the remains of several individuals, lying side by side, but too badly decayed to be preserved. No. 6 had been bored through years before for a well; quantities of broken bones were brought to the surface. Our time did not allow of any further explorations. The regularity in the arrangement of the mounds presented a weird appearance in the forest. Some of the mounds on the bluffs opened at same time yielded the same results. On one a white-oak tree, three feet in diameter, was growing. Rude vessels and stone axes have been found in the neighboring mounds.