THE McMAHAN MOUND.
On the west fork of the Little Pigeon River, at Sevierville, on a rich
bottom, 125 yards from the river, is a celebrated mound, the owners of
which have for years refused to have it opened.
Mr. Palmer spent several days in trying to obtain permission to open it,
and was about leaving in despair, when the owners finally yielded, not,
however, without requiring a number of concessions on the part of the
collector, which concessions were put in the form of a legal document.
This mound is 16 feet high and 240 feet in circumference.
Three feet below the surface, a stratum of burnt clay, 15 feet wide by
30 long, was reached. This has probably formed part of the roof of a
dwelling.
Beneath this was a bed of charcoal 4 inches thick. In this bed remnants
of cedar posts from 2 to 4 inches thick and 1 to 2 feet in length were
found.
Below this was a stratum of ashes, covering a limited area to the depth
of 4 feet. Surrounding this, the earth contained fragments of numerous
articles used by the inhabitants, while beneath came 4-1/2 feet of
earth, in which numerous skeletons had been deposited.
The bodies had been interred without order, and the bones were so
intermingled, and so far decayed, that no complete skeletons could be
collected. Beneath the layer of bones came a second deposit of ashes,
2 feet thick by 2-1/2 feet in diameter, and beneath this a mass of red
clay, 18 inches in thickness. In the earth surrounding the ashes and
clay, a number of skeletons were found; these were in such an advanced
stage of decomposition that only a few fragments of skulls could be
preserved.
Three feet below the second layer of bones, the undisturbed soil was
reached.
Two boxes of bones were collected, the well-preserved crania numbering
about twenty.
A great many interesting specimens of the implements, utensils, and
ornaments of the mound-builders were obtained.
The following catalogue includes everything of interest: