Giant Sioux Hopewell Indian Skeletons Removed from an Illinois Burial Mound

Fifth Annual Report of The Bureau of Ethnology of the Smithsonian Institution.

       "Near the original surface of the ground, several feet north of the center, where the many decayed skeletons of some six or eight individuals from the infant to the adult. Near the original surface, some 10 to 12 feet from the center, on the lower side, was discovered lying at full length on its back, an unusually large skeleton, the length being something over 7 feet. It was distinctly traceable though it crumbled to pieces immediately after removal from the hard earth in which it was encased. With it were three thin, crescent shaped pieces of roughly hammered native copper, respectively 6, 8 and 10 inches in length, with small holes along the convex margin; also a number of elongate copper beads, made by rolling together thin sheets and a chert lance head 11 inches long; the latter was placed near the left thigh. Around the neck were the remains of a necklace of bear teeth. Lying across the thighs were dozens of small copper beads, evidently formed by rolling slender strips into small rings."