The Southern and Central Alabama Expeditions of Clarence Bloomfield Moore

Certain Aboriginal Remains of the Lower Tombigbee River

Certain Aboriginal Rem.ains of the Lower Tombigbee River BY CLARENCE B. MOORE ---:- (.(.-- --------- , o Powe's~ Malone's Gin -- - ----- - - ----~~ o MAP or TOMBIGBEE RIVER TO REMBERT'S LANDING Red.u.ced frDm Go~.r"m""t Surve.y Sca.Le in miles s 190~ X i114;cof1t5 mOfJ.f\d CERTAIN ABORIGINAL REMAINS OF THE LOWER TOMBIGBEE RIVER. By CLARENCE B. MOORE. As the reader is aware, the Tombigbee and Alabama rivers unite to form the Mobile river about forty-five miles, by water, above the city of Mobile, Alabama. The Mobile river and the Alabama were investigated by us during the season of 1899.1 During the summer of 1900, Mr. J. S. Raybon, captain of the steamer from which our mound work is done, started with a companion at Columbus, Miss., the present head of navigation, and continued down the little Tombigbee river, as the npper part of the Tombigbee before its union with the Black Warrior, near Demopolis , is sometimes called, and down the Tombigbee river to its junction with the Alabama. In this way were located a great number of mounds, the owners of which almost unanimously accorded -us permission to dig. Part of the winter of 1901 was devoted by us to a careful examination of the Little Tombigbee river between Columbus, Miss., and Demopolis, Ala., 149 miles by water. In addition, the upper 29 miles of the Tombigbee river, from Demopolis to Bickley's Landing, were investigated.2 This left unexplored by us 156 miles by water between Bickley's Landing and the junction of the Tombigbee with the Alabama. It is with these 156 miles that this account of part of our work of the season of 1905 has to do. Instead of going downstream, however, as we did in 1901, this season we went np the Tombigbee to the place where our work had ended before. The warm thanks of the Academy are tendered all owners of mounds and camp sites on the Tombigbee river, who so courteously placed their property at its disposal. MOUNDS AND CAMP SITES INVESTIGATED. Mound near the Cut-off, Clarke County. Mound at Hooks' Plantation, Clarke County. Mounds at Three Rivers Landing, Washington County (4). Mound at Payne's Woodyard, Clarke County. Mound near Carney's Bluff, Clarke County (2). Mound near Gaines' Landing, Washington County. Mound near Bolan's Woodyard, Washington County. 1 "Certain Aboriginal Remains of the Alabama River," Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. of Phila., Vol. XI. 2" Certain Aboriginal Remains of the Tombigbee River," Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. of Phila.,Vol. XI. CERTAIN ABORIGINAL REMAINS, LOWER TO)IBIGBEE RIVER. 247 Mounds near Jackson, Clarke County (2). Mounds at Jackson Landing, Clarke County (2). Mound in Kimbell's Field, Clarke County. Mound opposite Peavey's Landing, Washington County. Mound near Santa Bogue creek, Washington County. Mound near Malone's Gin, Clarke County. Mound near Bass' Landing, Choctaw County. Mound at Cox's Landing, Clarke County. Dwelling Site at Thornton's Upper Landing, Clarke County. Mound near Powe's Landing, Choctaw Connty. Mound near Noble's Gin, Clarke County. Mound below Bashi creek, Clarke County. Mound near Bashi creek, Clarke Connty. Mound on the Watters' Plantation, Marengo County. Mound below Horse creek, Marengo Connty. Mounds below Beaver creek, Marengo County (-1:). Mounds near mouth of Beaver creek, Marengo County (14). Mounds near Breckenridge Landing, Marengo County (40 to 50). Mounds near Steiner's Landing, Choctaw County (3). Mounds near Rembert'~ Landing, Marellgo County (31). MOUND NEAR THE CUT-oFF, CLAHKE COUNTY. The Cut-off is a narrow water-way !Jetweell the Alahama awl Tomhighl'c riY(~r~, eight miles by water ahove their junction. The mOllll(l, on property bt'lollging to Mr. C. G. Foote, of Calvert, Alalmma, is in thick swalllp, about 100 yards from the southern side of the Cut-ofi~ and approximately three-(luartt'r~ of a mill' from the Tomhighee river. The mound is composed of It mixture of day. sautl, allli loalll. Its height is 5 feet 4 inches; its hasal (liameter, (\2 feet. As it was not dct'llwd advisahle to destroy this moulHI, owing to its use as a plaee of refuge hy eattle ill times of high water, thirteen exenvations, each ahout 3 feet square, were llHHlt, in it to the base. In one excavation was a small Imnchell hurial consisting of a l"Ikull with its lower jaw, one clfi\;icle, one bit of...