Miscellaneous Papers Relating to Anthropology/Mounds in Henry and Stark Counties, Illinois
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.
In the corporation of Toulon, marked F, from a very low mound were taken two axes and some white flakes like enamel. Judging from the deposits, as well as from the mold, a body had been interred here.
In the northeast of Henry County, at a point marked G, are immense sand-hills and swamps. The mound-builders evidently made this a rendezvous for game and fish, the sand-banks abounding in all kinds of relics. This is the Winnebago swamp, and scattered through it are many evidences of ancient inhabitants.
plat no.1.
As mentioned above, Plat No. 2 is in enlargement of point A in Plat 1. The mounds will be described in the order of the numbers in the figure.
1. The mound was opened and a polished agate was found, about the size and shape of a hen's egg, but more pointed. Both this mound and No. 2 are still covered with timber.
plat no.2 1 mile square.
3. Nothing but ashes was found in the bottom of this mound.
4. At the bottom, the stump of a crab-apple tree was discovered, which had been felled by a blunt-edged tool. Another tree had grown on the surface of the mound, and the roots completely surrounded the ancient stump beneath. Another mound formerly located at this point has since been obliterated.
5, 6, 7. Permission to open these could not be obtained.
All the mounds mentioned in this paper are about the same size, 30 feet across, and 2½ feet high, and are built of material found on the spot. The last named are on the land of Peter H. Nilson.