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What has become of all the evidence? Again and again, only a single long skeleton or two was found among those of normal size. The understanding of tall, ruling chiefs and their wives was not developed at all, as is evident in these examples. "The other, situated on the point of a commanding bluff, was also conical in form, 50 feet in diameter and about 8 feet high. The outer layer consisted in sandy soil, 2 feet thick, filled with slightly decayed skeletons, probably Indians of intrusive burials. The earth of the main portion of this mound was a very fine yellowish sand which shoveled like ashes and was everywhere, to a depth of 2 to 4 feet, as full of human skeletons as could be stowed away in it, even to two and three tiers. Among these were a number of bones not togeth- er as skeletons, but mingled in confusion and probably from scaffolds or other localities. Excepting one, which was rather more than 7 feet long, these skeletons appeared to be of medium size and many of them much decayed..." 12th Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1890-1891 (1894) (Pike County, Illinois) sides... Each wrist was encircled by six heavy copper bracelets... Upon the breast was a copper gorget...length, 34 inches; greatest width 3% inches..." 12th Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution 1890-1891 (1894) (Kanawha County, West Virginia) The pressure of the time schedule doubtless made it inconve- nient to consider seriously the possibility of an ancient lineage of leaders taking the form of very tall people. The fact of gigantic stature never settled in as a clue to a greater mystery, and the evi- dences of very tall, ruggedly built men vanished—and often enough into the Smithsonian's temporary charnel house of pre- Columbian miscellany. "Three feet above. ..the skeleton of a large, strongly built man lay extended at full length with the face up, the head toward the east... The skull was obtained almost entire. Under it were thirteen water-worn quartz pebbles. The femur measured 18% inches..." 12th Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1890-1891 (1894) (Union County, Mississippi) "No. 11 is now 35 by 40 feet at the base and 4 feet high. In oe ~ (1894) (Union County, Mis: ssippi) the center, 3 feet below the surface, was a vault 8 feet long and 3 feet wide. In the bottom of this, among the decayed A femur (thigh bone) exceeding 18 inches would indicate a fragments of bark wrappings, lay a skeleton fully seven feet man of very great height—easily over seven feet. Femurs long, extended exceeding 20 inches have been found, however. Though hindsight is said to be 20/20, Thomas's methodol- ogy was little better than a government- sanctioned dissolu- tion of the red burial places. He dismantled the sanc- 12th Annual tuaries and charnel Report of the Bureau houses with the fer- of Ethnology to the A Section of the Great Smith Mound, Kanawha County, West Virginia. vour of a man whose Secretary of the This cone-shaped mound rose 35 feet high and measured 175 feet in diameter at__ first priority was to Smithsonian its base. The interior of the mound contained a vault made of timber measuring _impress his employ- Institution, 12 feet by 13 feet. It was positioned within the mound 20 feet above surface level. ¢!- From Florida to 1890-189] Nebraska, including (1894) (Kanawha County, West Virginia) 23 states and Canada's Manitoba region, over the next seven years he and his agents worked like men possessed of a deadline. at full length on the back, head west. Lying in a circle above the hips were fifty-two perfo- rated shell disks about an inch in diameter and one-eighth of an inch thick." Largest in the collective series of mounds, the Great Smith "Several years ago an Indian mound was opened near Mound yielded at least two large skeletons, but at different levels Cartersville, Ga., by a committee of scientists from the of its deconstruction by Thomas's agents. It was 35 feet in height Smithsonian. After removing the dirt for some distance, a and 175 feet in diameter, and was constructed in at least two layer of flagstones was found, which had evidently been stages, according to the report. The larger of the two skeletons dressed by hand, showing that the men who quarried the rock represented a man conceivably approaching eight feet in height understood the business. These stones were removed, and in when living. a vault beneath them was found a skeleton of a giant, "At a depth of 14 feet, a rather large human skeleton was measuring seven feet and two inches. His hair was coarse found, which was in a partially upright position with the back and jet-black, and hung to the waist, the brow being against a hard clay wall... All the bones were badly decayed, ornamented with a copper crown. The skeleton was except those of the left wrist, which had been preserved by remarkably well preserved and taken from the vault intact. two heavy copper bracelets... Nearby were found the bodies of several children of various "Nineteen feet from the top the bottom of this debris was sizes. The remains of the latter were covered with beads reached, where, in the remains of a bark coffin, a skeleton made of bone of some kind. Upon removing these, the measuring 7/ feet in length and 19 inches across the shoul- bodies were found to be enclosed in a network of straw or ders was discovered. It lay on the bottom of the vault reeds, and underneath these was a covering of the skin of stretched horizontally on the back, head east, arms by the some animal. In fact, the bodies had been prepared A Section of the Great Smith Mound, Kanawha County, West Virginia. This cone-shaped mound rose 35 feet high and measured 175 feet in diameter at its base. The interior of the mound contained a vault made of timber measuring 12 feet by 13 feet. It was positioned within the mound 20 feet above surface level. Largest in the collective series of mounds, the Great Smith Mound yielded at least two large skeletons, but at different levels of its deconstruction by Thomas's agents. It was 35 feet in height and 175 feet in diameter, and was constructed in at least two stages, according to the report. The larger of the two skeletons represented a man conceivably approaching eight feet in height when living. "At a depth of 14 feet, a rather large human skeleton was found, which was in a partially upright position with the back against a hard clay wall... All the bones were badly decayed, except those of the left wrist, which had been preserved by two heavy copper bracelets... "Nineteen feet from the top the bottom of this debris was reached, where, in the remains of a bark coffin, a skeleton measuring 7/ feet in length and 19 inches across the shoul- ders was discovered. It lay on the bottom of the vault stretched horizontally on the back, head east, arms by the JUNE — JULY 2003 NEXUS = 55 (1894) (Kanawha County, West Virginia) www.nexusmagazine.com