connection with the discovery of dolmens in Japan, as described by
Professor Morse, to know that within twenty-four hours there had been
received at the Peabody Museum a small collection of articles taken
from rude dolmens (or chambered barrows, as they would be called in
England), recently opened by Mr. E. Curtiss, who is now engaged, under
his direction, in exploration for the Peabody Museum.

"These chambered mounds are situated in the eastern part of Clay
County, Missouri, and form a large group on both sides of the Missouri
River. The chambers are, in the three opened by Mr. Curtiss, about 8
feet square, and from 4-1/2 to 5 feet high, each chamber having a
passage-way several feet in length and 2 in width leading from the
southern side and opening on the edge of the mound formed by covering
the chamber and passage-way with earth. The walls of the chambered
passages were about 2 feet thick, vertical, and well made of stones,
which were evenly laid without clay or mortar of any kind. The top of
one of the chambers had a covering of large, flat rocks, but the
others seem to have been closed over with wood. The chambers were
filled with clay which had been burnt, and appeared as if it had
fallen in from above. The inside walls of the chambers also showed
signs of fire. Under the burnt clay, in each chamber, were found the
remains of several human skeletons, all of which had been burnt to
such an extent as to leave but small fragments of the bones, which
were mixed with the ashes and charcoal. Mr. Curtiss thought that in
one chamber he found the remains of 5 skeletons and in another 13.
With these skeletons there were a few flint implements and minute
fragments of vessels of clay.

"A large mound near the chambered mounds was also opened, but in this
no chambers were found. Neither had the bodies been burnt. This mound