As already stated it is only in some of the mounds that
charred wood is found. This specimen is from the mound at
Contcheteheng, at the head of Rainy River. It stands beside the
Rapids. This mound has supplied many interesting remains. From this
fact as well as from its situation, I would hazard the opinion that
here, as at the great Rainy River Falls, three miles farther down,
there were villages in the old mound building days. It is a fact
worthy of notice that the site of the first French Fort on Rainy
River, St. Pierre built by Verandrye in 1731, was a few hundred yards
from this mound.
3. _Bark_. Specimens of birch bark were found near by the bones. It
was no doubt originally used for swathing or wrapping the corpses
buried. That a soft decayable substance such as bark, should have
lasted while a number of bones had decayed may seem strange. No doubt
this may be explained in the same way as the presence among the
remains in Hochelaga, on the Island of Montreal, of preserved
fragments of maize, viz., by its having been scorched. The pieces of
bark seem to have been hardened by scorching.
4. _Earth_. The main earth of the mound is plainly the same as that of
the soil surrounding it. By what means the earth was piled up, is a
question for speculation. It seems a matter of small moment. Possibly
that the earth was carried in baskets, or vessels of considerable size
is sufficient to account for it.
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