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 40 ABORIGINAL MONUMENTS

In some of the sepulchral mounds, as has already been stated, the sarcophagus, if we so please to term it, was omitted by the builders, the dead body having been simply enveloped in bark or matting. Perhaps this course was most frequently pursued. In these cases the original sur- face appears to have been carefully smoothed and levelled, for a space ten or twenty feet square, which space was covered with bark. Upon this was deposited the dead body, and, by its side, such personal ornaments or implements as were deemed proper, the whole being covered with another layer of bark, and the tumulus raised above. Instances have occurred in which it is clear that burial by increma- tion was made, but these are comparatively rare. In the celebrated mound at Grave Creek, two sepulchral chambers were discovered, one at the base, another at a higher point. The lower one contained two skeletons, and the upper but one. The mound, in this respect, is somewhat extraordi- nary. It may be conjectured, with some appearance of reason, that it contained the bones of the family of a chief- tain, or distinguished individual, among the builders. It is common to find two or three, sometimes four or five, sepulchral mounds, in a group. In such cases, it is al- ways to be remarked, that one of the group is much the

Fic. 3. largest, twice or three times the dimensions of any of the others, and that the smaller ones are arranged around its base, generally joining it, thus evincing an intend- ed dependence and close connection between them. Plans of three groups of this description are given in the annexed figures, May we not conclude that such a group is the tomb