Mound No. 12, at Kendal, was situated close to the last-described
mound. Its flattened summit measured 28 feet by 20 feet; the average
height was approximately 15 feet. The mound extended east and west,
and on its eastern slope large slate slabs were seen protruding from
the surface. On excavating round these they were found to be part of
a chamber measuring 7 feet by 3 feet; the south wall had caved in and
the roof slabs also had been somewhat displaced. The chamber was filled
with earth, on removing which the following objects were found upon the
floor slabs: (1) Three nearly spherical red pots, averaging 6 inches in
diameter; they were so rotten from the effect of moisture that it was
impossible to remove them. (2) Two small, rather crudely executed human
faces cut in mottled jadeite, and finely polished, with which were
three green jadeite beads. (3) A small quantity of greenish powder.
(4) Four small chisels of polished greenstone, varying from 2 to 4 cm.
in length. (5) One chisel made of very soft gray stone, which had been
covered externally with greenish paint somewhat resembling enamel, and
very closely simulating the genuine greenstone chisels with which it
was placed, except that it was much lighter in weight. Instances of
counterfeit implements and ornaments buried with the dead have been
found more than once throughout this area.
[Illustration: FIG. 36.--Inscription on ax head, plate 16, _c_.]
Excavations were made along the flattened top of this mound, and about
16 feet to the westward of the first one a second grave was discovered.
This was in a much better state of preservation than the first, as
all the walls and the roof were in situ. It was composed throughout
of large flat irregular slabs of slate, averaging about 2 inches in
thickness. It measured 8 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet in height. The
chamber was filled with earth, and the roof was not more than 6 or 8
inches below the surface of the mound. The following objects were found
in this chamber, all resting upon the slate slabs which formed the
floor. At the north end five nearly globular red earthenware pots, of
rather coarse manufacture, each containing a stone celt, were found.
These pots had been packed closely together, in earth, and over them
a large slab of slate had been placed as if to protect them; this,
however, it failed to do, as the pots were so saturated with moisture
that it was found possible to remove only one unbroken. The celts
averaged 6 inches in length; all were well made and polished; four were
of greenstone, one of a bluish-gray stone. Close to the pots were found
a small jadeite face and three greenstone beads or pendants. Nearer
the center of the floor of the chamber were found two small cubical
objects of light greenstone 1 cm. in diameter, very closely resembling
dice, with a geometrical device inscribed in rather deep lines upon two
of their opposed surfaces; these might have been seals or stamps, or
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