Exploration of the Tremper Mound / by William Corless Mills.

  • William Corless Mills
Date:
1917
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Exploration of the Tremper Mound / by William Corless Mills. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    16/156 (page 112)
    THE EXPLORATION OE THE MOUND. On the 21 st of July, 1915, was begun the exploration of the Tremper mound. The examination had as its purpose the exposing to view of the entire site of the mound, the recording of all finds, and the photographing of all important features. The surveyor of the party, Mr. George H. Miehls, made; a complete survey of the mound and the earthwork that surrounds it before excavating was begun, and from his notes was prepared the topographic map shown in Fig. 2. He then established secondary traverse points upon and around the mound, and from these located, by the aid of the instrument, the various finds in the mound as they were unearthed, and from his notes prepared the map, Fig. 3, showing the plan of the floor of the mound. Mr. Miehls also prepared a plan showing a cross- section of the mound, upon which was recorded the depths of finds therein, as well as the depth of the soil composing the mound and of graves found below its base. The cross-section is shown in Fig. 4. The maximum length of the mound as shown by our survey is two hundred and fifty feet and the maximum width one hundred and fifty feet, with an average width of one hundred and twenty feet. Its maximum height is eight and one-half feet, with an average height of about five feet. The solid con¬ tents of the mound are approximately three thousand cubic yards of earth, all of which was examined, after which the mound was restored to its original height and dimensions. The surface of the mound had long been under cultivation and was devoid of trees or undergrowth, which greatly facilitated its examination. For the most part, it was constructed of sur¬ face soil secured in close proximity to the mound site, and within the encircling earthwork. Squier & Davis state that the mound is composed of loose broken sandstone and earth; we found but few pieces of sandstone, these occurring only in con¬ nection with intrusive burials. Within the body of the mound, now and then, small pockets of gravel were unearthed, while the central portion of the floor, surrounding the large communal grave and the cache of artifacts, was covered with fine sand to the depth of several inches.