ADDITIONAL MOUNDS

OF

Duval and of Clay Counties,
Florida.

Mound Investigation on the East Coast of Florida.

Certain Florida Coast Mounds North of the
St. Johns River.

By CLARENCE B. MOORE.

1896.
ADDITIONAL MOUNDS

OF

Duval and of Clay Counties,
Florida.

Mound Investigation on the East Coast of Florida.

Certain Florida Coast Mounds North of the
St. Johns River.

By CLARENCE B. MOORE.

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1896.
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PRET AC i;

URING five months of the Fall of 1595 and of the Winter of 1895-1896,
mound investigation was carried on by us in Florida with cumulative results
in some cases, with negative results in others.
Nothing new or of especial interest rewarded our labors.
Nevertheless, as our researches were made with great care and considerable
thoroughness, it has seemed well to embody the results ina brief report. To our
mind, it is the duty of one destroying an aboriginal landmark to see to it that the

results, be they ever so meagre, go on permanent record.

C. B. M.

June, 1890.
ADDITIONAL MOUNDS OF DUVAL AND OF CLAY COUNTIES,
FLORIDA.

Mound at Arlington.

Mounds at South Jacksonville (2).
Mound at Point La Vista.

Mounds South of Point La Vista (3),
Mound at Mulberry Grove.

Mound at Peoria.

Low Mounp at Arninetox, DuvaL County.

About three miles below Jacksonville, on the opposite side of the St. Johns, at
Arlington, on the property of William G. Matthews. Esq.. of Philadelphia, was a
low mound in pine woods. We are indebted to W. H. Wilson. Esq..in whose charge
the estate is. for permission to investigate.

This mound was not considered of aboriginal origin by the inhabitants of the
neighborhood and had sustained no previous investigation though it gave evidence
of cultivation in former times; its height of two feet, at the time of our in-
vestigation, was probably considerably less than its original altitude. Its shape was
irregular, its major and minor axes being respectively 57 feet and 56 feet.

It was totally demolished.

It was composed of yellow sand with the usual admixture of charcoal.

HUMAN REMAINS.

Human remains were encountered at twenty-five points, some as deep as 5 feet
from the surface, beginning at the very margin ot one portion of the mound.
Bones were in the last stave of decay. but minimum portions of the skeleton being
represented—at times parts of the cranium alone and again small pieces of bone
almost too fragmentary for identification.

EARTHENWARE,

Sherds were present in great quantities, the majority undecorated, though
some bore the complicated stamps found in Georgia and in Carolina. Two had the
stamp familiar in Florida, consisting of small diamonds.

The material of all the ware present in the mound, with the exception of cer-
tain fragments, was very inferior.

There were present numerous sherds showing separation from the vessel, not
by a clean break but by the aid of a pointed implement, and a number of vessels
had pieces removed from the margin by the agency of pointed tools. We have

(7)
8 ADDITIONAL MOUNDS OF

before referred to this peculiar custom as oceurring in Duval County mounds and
occasionally in other parts of Florida.

At several points in the mound were nests of fragments of earthenware.

In the northwestern margin of the mound, together, just below the surface,
with a deposit of charcoal but apparently with no human remains, were two tobacco:
pipes of earthenware, of the usual type found in the mounds of Duval County,
where the orifice for the stem often equals in size the aperture of the bowl,

This type, probably in vogue before white contact, is present in the stone-
graves of Tennessee. We have elsewhere found tobacco pipes of much more
modern appearance in mounds containing objects essentially European.

In loose sand was another tobacco pipe in appearance similar to the foregoing.

In the northeastern margin, 1.5 feet down, with fragmentary human remains

1 foot below, was a small undecorated bowl with a perforation in the base, made
previous to baking. This was the only occurrence in the mound of ready-made
mortuary ware. For the benefit of those not familiar with our previous Reports on
the Florida mounds, we may say that it was the custom in that State often to
knock out the bottom, or to make a hole through the bottom, of earthenware ves-
sels, previous to inhumation with the dead and that this custom is believed to
have been practised with the idea that the mutilation ~ killed” the vessel, freeing
its soul to accompany that of its owner into the next world. Apparently, how-
ever, it entered the minds of the more thrifty among the aborigines that vessels of
value might serve a better purpose, and hence there arose a class of ceremonial
ware, usually small in size, often of fantastic design and always of flimsy material,
with bases perforated during the process of manufacture. This cheap ware was
probably kept on hand and did duty for vessels more valuable and less readily
spared.
One and one-half feet below the surface, about 4 feet in from the northwestern
margin, was a small globular vessel of ordinary type, undecorated, intact as to the
base, with perforations for suspension below the margin on either side. No human
remains were found in the neighborhood.

About 5 feet in from the western margin, and 2 feet below the surface, with
no human remains in proximity, were two undecorated bowls, each with a maxi-
mum diameter of about 6 inches. Both showed perforation of the base made after.
manufacture.

A globular vessel of somewhat over one quart capacity lay about 9 feet in
from the northeastern margin and 1.5 feet below the surface. It was undecorated
save for a raised band around the inverted rim. With it were the greater part of
a small undecorated vessel of ordinary type and various artifacts. Human remains
were in association. Within the vessel were two pebbles; fragments of marine
univalves ; decaying portions of mussel shells; a worked object of shell resembling
an imperforate cylindrical bead; and a bit of coquina.

At a number of other points were vessels, some of about one gallon capacity,
all undecorated and of most inferior ware. In nearly every case was perforation.
DUVAL AND OF CLAY COUNTIES, FLORIDA. 4

of the bas? made after the completion of the vessel. Nearly all were to a certain
extent imperfect, some being crushed to numerous fragments.

STONE.

Five hatchets of the usual type, some showing considerable breakage, came
from various points in the mound, none deeper than three feet.

In sand dyed red with Hematite, near human remains. were several mussel
shells; one small bit of sandstone; a petangular slab of red sandstone with a
maximum length of 7.5 inches, a maximum width of 7 inches, a thickness of 3
inches; a ‘eelt’ & inches in Jength.

Four arrowheads came from different depths. With one was a pebble hammer
of quartz.

About 2.5 feet from the surface, together, were fragments of lower animal
bones; pebbles; a bit of quurtz; fragments of marine shell; and several bits of
chert radely worked to resemble the arrowhead but too imperfect to be of service
for any but sepulehral purposes. 5

Variously associated throughout the mound were a number of sheets of mica;
pebble hammers: pebbles: several bits of chert and hones of sandstone.

SHELL.

Upon several occasions fragments of mussel shells, probably whole at the time
of interment, lay with human remains and with artifacts.

In one instance, with human remains and other objects, was the columella of
a marine univalve neatly worked to a blunt pomt at either end.

REMARKS.

This mound closely resembles many other low mounds of Duval County in the
presence of abundant earthenware, of tobacco pipes of prehistoric pattern, of mica
and of pebbles.

Nothing in the mound indicated acquaintance with the products of Europe.

Two Low Mounps at Sovtu JACKSONVILLE. DuvaL County.

These two mounds, almost contiguous, were on property belonging to the Hen-
dricks estate. The ground, destined for building purposes, has been cleared and
has evidently been under cultivation.

The smaller mound, circular in shape, had a height of 1 foot 8 inches, a base
diameter of 52 feet. The mound had evidently been greatly spread out and a good
portion of its contents doubtless scattered. The central portion was dug through.
resulting in the discovery of a few sherds and here and there fragments of human
remains.

The larger mound was irregular in shape; its major and minor axes being

2
10 ADDITIONAL MOUNDS OF

respectively 72 feet and 50 feet. Its height wax 3 feet 3 inches. Its general ap-
pearance called to mind the low mound at Floral Bluff, Duval County, and the
largest of the low mounds south of the great Grant mound, where our investigation
was so richly rewarded. Our hopes in respect to this mound, however, were doomed
to disappomtment, for mound work is a lottery where blanks largely predominate.

The central portion of the mound was entirely dug through. yielding one in-
terment badly decayed and apparently previously disturbed. A few sherds with
complicated stamped decoration were met with.

Low Mounp at Point La Vista, Duvan Counry.

Point La Vista,on the eastern bank of the St. Johns, ix about four miles above
Jacksonville.

In a cultivated field about one-half mile in a northerly direction from the
landing was a mound much reduced in height by the plow. Its diameter of base,
at the time of its total demolition by us, was 55 feet; its height. 2 feet + inches.
The mound at the central portion had a thickness of 5 feet between the surface and
where the sand ceased to show an admixture of charcoal, that is to say about 2.5
feet above the level of the surrounding territory and an equal distance below it.
Yellow sand with no traces of charcoal or sherds, marked the bottom of the mound
and into this again certain small pits had been dug. as was shown by the darker
color of the sand emploved to fill them.

Somewhat below the level of the surrounding territory was a stratum over one
foot in thickness of sand blackened by fire, containing abundant particles of char-
coal. Above this layer were brown sand and white sand intermingled at places,
surmounted by a stratum of cherry-colored sand owing its tint to the use of /Zemza-
tite, of irregular thickness—averaging. perhaps, | foot. This bright colored stratum
lay beneath a superficial layer of brownish sand about 1 foot in thickness.

Interments were in considerable numbers—between thirty and forty—and in
the last stage of decay. some in fact so far gone that the method of burial was not
determined. but in all cases where sufficient evidence remained the burial in
anatomical order was indicated.

(Juantities of sherds were in every portion of the mound; some plain, others

 

with punctate decoration, and others again bearing the square or the diamond-
shaped stamp common to Florida ware. Intricate stamped decoration. prevalent in
Georgia and present in many mounds of Duval County, was not met with.

About 3 feet from the surtace was a bowl of approximately one gallon capacity,
of ordinary type, bearing the square stamped decoration. The bottom had been
intentionally knocked out. No human remains were <liscovered in the immediate
neighborhood.

In a pocket of brownish sand. extending into the untouched sand below the
mound, seemingly a small grave, over 5 feet from the surface, in the central portion
DUVAL AND OF CLAY COUNTIES. FLORIDA. 11

of the base, with human remains, was an undecorated earthenware pipe (Fig. 1) of
the usual type of the mounds of Duval County.

A curious earthenware knob, evidently broken from some vessel, lay in the sand.

Two polished hatchets were met with, one with human remains. 6 inches from
the xurface, the other in caved sand.

On a fireplace 5 feet trom the surface were certain bones of the deer.

Several chips of chert, a rude implement of chert, a hone of sandstone and two
chert arrowheads, were found separately in the sand.

Loose in the sand were several conchs, a number of oyster-shells and the colu-

 

 

 

Fia.1. Tobacco pipe of earthenware. Low Mound at Point La Vista. (lull size.)

mella of a large marine univalve worked to a point.
As this portion of Florida hax been long under cultivation, it is impossible to
say what artifacts may have been removed by the plow in previous years,

Low Mounps NEAR Point LA Vista, Duvan County.

Partly on the property of Mr. Shad, resident near by, and of Mrs. J. R. Hun-
ter, of Albany, N. Y., about one mile in a southerly direction from Point La Vista,
were three low intersecting mounds (Fig. 2) all showing signs of former cultiva-
tion. By arrangement with Mr. Shad, and with kind consent of George M. Wyeth,
M. D., of Jacksonville, in charge of the Hunter property, these mounds were totally
due through at a depth of three to four feet below the level of the surrounding

territory.
12 ADDITIONAL MOUNDS OF

They contained the usual charcoal and many fireplaces and were composed of
yellowish-brown sand unstratified.

Mound A. Diameter of base, 29 feet; height, 2 feet 5 inches.

No skeletal remains were encountered until the central portion of the mound
was reached when small fragments of mouldering human bones were met with at
four different points, from one foot
to three feet nine inches from the
surface. No artifacts were in as-
sociation save in one instance
when a small stone “celt” lay near
bones.

With the exception of a nest of
many fragments of carthenware im
the southern margin, sherds were
infrequent. Certain fragments of
earthenware were  undecorated,
while others bore a complicated
stamped decoration, several of these
beine additionally decorated with
crimson pigment—the first occur-
rence in our experience of the com-

 

* Seale in feet. bined ornamentation.
seale jr 3a
Fig. 2. Plan of mounds south of Point La Vista. Four small arrowheads. too rude

for aught save mortuary deposits,
were found separately. A bit of chert came from a depth of 5 feet.

Singly were: one pebble-hammer; one rude piercing implement of chipped
chert and one pebble about 2 by 2.5 inches by one inch in thickness. worked into
an oblong shape with rounded corners.

Mound B. Diameter of base, 52 feet; height, 2 feet Linch. In this mound
interments, consisting, as in the other, of mouldering fragments, were met with at
six different points.

Three and one-half feet from the surface, with human remains, were: one bit
of chipped chert; a few marine mussel shells: a piece of sandstone; part of a
columella of a marine univalve; and a small /udgur carica with a hole knocked
through one side. These all lay in a pocket of sand dyed scarlet with red oxide of
iron.

Alsv in the scarlet sand, 4.5 feet from the surface, with a few bits of human
bone, were: a simall sheet of mica; a smoothing stone of chert; a perforated Fulgur
and several molars and incisors and one canine of some carnivore.

A streak of red sand beneath a seam of charcoal led to a large cockle shell
(Cardium), badly decayed, and a small vessel of earthenware with two compart-
ments and a handle on either end, very similar in type to one taken by us from the
DUVAL AND OF CLAY COUNTIES, FLORIDA. 13

Hopson mound, Lake County, and figured by us (Plate LXXXYV, Fig. 2) in our
Report on the mounds of the Ocklawaha river. Apparently no human remains
were with these objects.

A small imperforate undecorated bowl of ordinary type lay one foot from the
surface with fragments of parts of a large undecorated clay vessel, near human
remaims.

Three feet from the surface. apparently unassvciated with skeletal remains,
were portions of a vessel of about six quarts capacity. with complicated stamped
decoration. The base showed perforation after manufacture.

Several pebble-hammers lay singly loose in the sand,

Mound C. Diameter of base. 58 feet; height. 2 feet 2 inches. Human re-
mains, mere fractional parts of the skeleton, present at ten different points. were
confined to the southern portion and the eastern margin of the mound,

Three feet. eight inches from the surface. in the southern margin, with several
large shell beads and one small shell (AZargzvel/a) longitudinally pierced. were por-
tions of a cranium of a child of about nine years of age; also several molars and
one vertebra. In the vicinity lay a hatchet of polished stone.

Together were: three pebble-hammers. one pitted on one side and neatly
rounded; one small pebble; a cutting implement of chipped chert. 6 inches in
length. possibly incomplete; several conchs (Fulgur carica) badly decayed. perto-
rated in the body whorl opposite the aperture; bits of columella of large marme
univalves; several mussel shells, fragmentary through decay; and what decay had
spared of one piercing implement of bone. All these lay with human remains in
the eastern margin of the mound, about 5 feet from the surface.

In close proximity to the deposit just described were human remiauns at about
the same depth. With them were one lance head, two arrow heads and eleven chips,
all of chert.

In various parts of the mound were nests of many fragments of various ves-
sels, buried in close contact, ax we have described elsewhere as present mm numbers
of low mounds of Duval County.

Three and one-half feet from the surface. beginning almost at the southern
margin and extending in for about 6 feet, was a large log or several smaller ones
pressed together with lines of separation no longer distinguishable, in the last stage
of decay. The upper surface was considerably charred.

About 5 feet in from the southern margin and 1 foot. 8 inches from the surtace,
unassociated with human remains, was a vessel of heavy earthenware, unique so
far as our experience extends. This interesting vessel, entirely intact, consists of
four irregular compartments joined together on the same plane. From their point
of union a fifth compartment rises as shown im Plates [I and II.

We are indebted to Professor Holmes for a sketch of a five-chambered vessel
about 5.25 inches square, from a mound in Franklin County, Florida. The central
compartment is not raised above the other four, as is the case in our specimen, but
is on the same plane and surrounded by them. Various high authorities consulted
14 ADDITIONAL MOUNDS OF

by us express ignorance of the discovery within the limits of the United States of
five-chambered vessels other than the two here recorded.
Nothing in these mounds gave any evidence of intercourse with the Whites.

Low Mounp at Munperry Grove, DuvaL County.

About ten miles south of Jacksonville, on the west bank of the St. Johns, 1s
the estate of A. M. Reed, Esq., known as Mulberry Grove. We are particularly
indebted to Mr. Reed tor permission to investigate his mound inasmuch as it was
under cultivation at the time of our visit. The mound is reported to have been
ploughed down for thirty years and
materially reduced in height. Its di-
ameter of base was 46 feet; its height,
2 feet.

A central excavation. 32 feet im di-
ameter (and this, we think, included the
original mound) was carried through at
a depth of about 5 feet. The mound
was of brown sand, unstratified, and
contained great numbers of fireplaces
with charcoal. The form of burial,
with one exception, was in anatomical
order, about two dozen skeletons being
met with, all much decayed. The
crania were also badly crushed. About
2.5 feet from the surface was a
heap of calcined human bones with
charcoal.

Some of the crumbling skeletons
lay at a depth of 5 feet from the sur-
face.

Sherds were infrequent and proba-
bly of accidental introduction.

With a skeleton, 3.5 feet from the
surfaec, were two vessels of earthen-

 

Fia. 3. Earthenware vessel with incised decoration. Wate and a pipe of the same material.
Mound at Mulberry Grove. (Full size.) The larger vessel lay on its side across

the right forearm; the smaller vessel,
on its base, with the tobacco pipe, was on the right hand side of the cranium.  Be-
neath the skull were two piercing implements of bone. Both vessels are virtually
intact and imperforate as to their bases. Each has a small hole on either side be-
neath the margin, for suspension. The larger has two incised parallel lines beneath
the margin of the opening. — Its dimensions are approximately: height, 4.5 inches ;
DUVAL AND OF CLAY COUNTIES, FLORIDA. 15

ra

maximum diameter, 3.25 inches; across mouth, 2.0 inches. The smaller vessel,
almost cylindrical (Fig. 5), has an interesting incised decoration. Approximate
measurements: height, 4.25 mehes; maximum diameter, at mouth, 2.75 inches; at
hase, or minimum diameter, 2.25 inches.

Five feet down, near a fragmentary skull, were one arrowhead and twenty-six
small fragments of chert. We have before made reference in our paper on certain
mounds in Duval County to the placing of numbers of such fragments together in
the mounds. We have never found these ageregations of small chips in any of the
larger mounds of Florida.

In another portion of the mound, at about the same depth as the previously
mentioned deposit, with human remains, were cleven small bits of chert and one
shell gouge.

Near the surface as it was at the period of excavation. lay a small + celt’? with
human remains.

Loose in the sand were several bits of chert and a portion of a polished stone
hatchet, found separately.

What this mound may have contained at the period of its abandonment. it is,
of course, impossible to say. Nothing discovered by us pointed to intercourse with
the Whites.

Movnp at Prorta, Chay County.

Doctor's Lake has its union with the St. Johns at Orange Park about sixteen
miles south of Jacksonville, on the west side of the river. About six miles in from
the mouth of the lake, almost at its extremity, is the settlement of Peoria. In the
outskirts of Peoria. on the property of Mr.J. A. Sileox, was a mound 4 feet 2 inches
high, and 75 feet across the base. It had sustained very little previous exumina-
tion, but its height had been greatly diminished by washing down of sand and
trampling of cattle, which, at the same time, had increased its diameter.

At the time of our previous mound work on the St. Johns we were unable to
come to terms with the owner of this mound, the location of which, however, is
noticed in our Report.

The mound was totally demolished. It was composed of brownish sand, with
the usual intermingling of charcoal.

About » feet down trom the level of the summit a thin, irregular layer of dark
sand and charcoal ran through the mound.

Less than one dozen interments were encountered, and these were represented
by mouldering fragments.

Sherds were very infrequent, all coming under our notice being undecorated
save one having the ordinary square stamp.

Throughout the mound were several whole and fragmentary arrow points,
three pebbles, a bit of chert and a piece of mica.

Four and one-half feet from the surface, with very fragmentary human remains,
lay fourteen arrow points.
16 MOUND INVESTIGATION ON THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA.

Almost in the immediate center of the mouud, 2.5 feet from the surface, was
concavo-convex ornament of sheet copper, 1.4 inches by 1.2 inches, having a narrow
margin beaded in the fashion so common in the mound ornaments of copper.

Nothing farther of interest was encountered.

MOUND INVESTIGATION ON THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA.

Our investigation of aboriginal mounds on the east coast of Florida, south of St-
Johns County, occupying three months of the Winter of 1895-1896, included such
territory as borders the Halifax river; the Hillsboro’ river, including the Mosquito
lagoon; the Indian river and Lake Worth; as well as the tributary streams, To-
moka creek, Spruce creek, Banana river and St. Lucie river.

In addition, certain mounds in the neighborhood of the town of Fernandina
were examined and the St. Mary’s river, separating portions of Florida and of
Georgia, was gone over so far as the head of navigation. To this work additional
time was devoted.

The Halifax, Hillsboro’ and Indian rivers, so-called, are not rivers strictly
speaking, but long and comparatively narrow stretches of salt water, connected
with the Atlantic Ocean by various inlets and separated from the sea by a com-
paratively narrow strip of sand, at no place five miles in breadth. They extend
north and south and their total length in a direct line is about 187 miles.

The Banana river is simply a portion of the Indian river. lying east of Mer-
ritt’s Island.

Tomoka and Spruce creeks and St. Lucie river, at a certain distance above their
outlets, are fresh water streams.

The aboriginal mounds bordering the Halifax, Hillsboro’ and Indian rivers,
while examined with considerable care, were by no means so exhaustively investi-
gated by us as have been the mounds of the St. Johns river and of other parts of
Florida, and our conclusions must not be regarded as final but rather taken as indi-
cations.

It would seem that the mounds of this region, considerable in number and
some of great size, were mostly erected for other than sepulchral purposes, inas-
much as human remains appear to be absent from the bodies of the mounds though
in some cases numerous interments were present near the surface. sometimes agsso-
ciated with art relics of European manufacture, such as glass beads, silver beads and
the like.’ These burials we look upon as intrusive, made by Indians coming later
than the makers of the mounds.

In certain cases smaller mounds contained human remains down to the base,

1 Mr. Douglass informs us that in his exploration of more than forty sand mounds on the east

Florida coast, from the St. Johns river to Miami—a distance of 375 miles by water—he has never found.
an article of European manufacture.
MOUND INVESTIGATION ON THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA. 17

but in every case these remains, where any other objects were found at all, were
associated only with bits of shell or of coquina.

Mr. Andrew E. Douglass, of the Museum of Natural History, New York, who
has spent a number of seasons on the east coast and has published various valuable
papers descriptive of his work,' reached virtually the same conclusions as ourselves,
and we are strongly of opinion that a more thorough investigation of these mounds,
though earnestly to be desired, will not be fruitful of results.

Another point strongly impressing itself upon us was the almost entire absence
of stone (unless coquina’ may be so termed) in the territory bordering the Halifax,
the Hillsboro’ and the Indian rivers, the mounds being entirely free from clips,
vores and other refuse material, of chert so abundant in mounds of the St. Johns
river.

Large fields of shell, denoting aboriginal dwelling sites, are numerous, yet upon
them we found not a single arrowhead or fragment of hard stone, while persons
cultivating these fields invariably expressed ignorance as to the discovery of stone
upon them. Upon similar fields and shell heaps of the St. Johns arrowheads and
flint chips are abundant; this absence of stone on the east coast is certainly
worthy of remark considering its comparative abundance on a river not over thirty,
and at one point only five, miles away.

Mr. Douglass has remarked the absence on the east coast of the polished
stone hatchet, or “celt,” from mounds south of St. John County, or about where
the Halifax river begins, and we have not in our experience learned of the occur-
rence of this implement on the east coast south of the point referred to by him.
though on the St. Johns river a number were taken by us from Thursby
Mound, about twenty-seven miles farther south, while one small hatchet was found
on the surface not far north of Lake Monroe. Beyond this point, even on the St.
Johns, the stone “‘celt”’ seemed to be absent with the exception of one rude cut-
ting implement of the polished “celt”” type*® taken by us from the island shell heap
known as Mulberry Mound, situate where the St. Johns river leaves Lake Poinsett,
about six miles west of Cocoa on the Indian river.

As we have said, exhaustive work was not done by us on the east coast and as
various lists of the earthworks of that section have already appeared, we shall not
vo into a detailed account but shall give results obtained in certain of the mounds
examined by us which, so far as our investigation has extended, were typical of the
whole. a

1 “ Some Characteristics of the Indian Earth and Shell Mounds on the Atlantic Coast of Florida.”
The American Antiquarian, March, 1885.

“ Barth and Shell Mounds on the Atlantic Coast of Florida,’’ same journal, May, 1885.

‘A Find of Ceremonial Weapons in a Florida Mound, with Brief Notice of Other Mounds in that
State.’’? From the Proceedings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Vol. XXI.

? Coquina, a formation of sand and minute shells and fragments of shells.

* For figure and description see ‘‘American Naturalist,’ August, 1893, page 716. ‘‘Certain shell
heaps of the St. Johns River, Fla., 4th paper.

3
1s MOUND INVESTIGATION ON THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA.

Stone House Mound.
Mounds at Courtenay (2).
- Mound at De Soto.
Mound at Tropic.
Gleason Mound.
Low Mounds near mouth of Banana river (2).
Mound near St. Lucie river.

Stone House Mounp, Voiusta County.

Spruce Creek enters the Halifax river opposite the town of Ponce Park. About
1 mile up Spruce Creek, turning into Murray's Creek and following the stream
about 1 mile, the Murray dwelling is reached, from which the mound is distant about
1.5 miles inland, in a southwesterly, direction. The mound, in thick “ hammock,”
and covered with palmetto and other trees, has a height of 20 feet, a diameter at
base of 144 feet. The trench made by Mr. Andrew E. Douglass,’ was the only
previous investigation apparent on the mound.

Parts of two days, with nine men to dig, were devoted to investigation.
Neither burial or artifact rewarded our labors—a result similar to that attamed by
Mr. Douglass.

Two feet beneath the surface, such parts of the mound as were dug into by us,
were encased in heavy slabs of coquina. This curious feature was noted also by
Mr. Douglass in the portion investigated by him.

Motunp At Courtenay, Brevarp County.

The settlement of Courtenay, on Merritt's Island, which here forms the eastern
shore of the Indian River, is about eight miles north of the town of Cocoa.

On the property of Mr. John H. Sams, at Courtenay. is a mound which was
cordially placed at our disposal for investigation by the owner. The mound,
entirely surrounded by a trench, presents a striking appearance, giving the impres-
sion of greater altitude than it really possesses. Its height is 11 feet; its diameter
at base about 100 feet, making allowance for a certain amount of sand evidently
washed from the mound.

An excavation 28 feet in diameter and from 5 to 6 feet deep. was made in the
central portion of the mound. A few scattered human bones were present imme-
diately below the surface. Ata depth of 5 feet was a sherd of considerable size.
Looxe in the sand was one fragment of chipped chert. Beyond these, nothing was
encountered and the sand, coarse and yellow, had the raw look peculiar to mounds
containing no organic remains.

' There are two mounds on Spruce Creek. ‘The one not referred to here is described by Mr. Douglass
in the first part of his article ‘‘ Harth and Shell Mounds on the Atlantic Coast of Florida,’ American
Antiquarian, May, 1835. Details of the Stone House, or Rock House, mound, as it ix variously called,
are given in the same paper.
MOUND INVESTIGATION ON THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA. 19

Low Mounp at Courtenay, Brevarp County.

In the southern extremity of the settlement of Courtenay, in thick * hammock”
land, on the property of Mr. H. J. Tiffin, of Montreal, Canada, was a mound about
2 feet in height and 35 feet in diameter. The central portion of this mound was
completely dug through at the courteous invitation of the owner. At two points
were fragmentary human remains which, with one small sherd, were the entire
vield of the mound.

Mounp At Dr Soto, Brevarp County.

The Banana river, as we have stated, is simply a portion of the Indian river
separated from the main body by Merritt's Island. On the east side of the river,
about 7 miles south of its northern extremity, at or near De Soto, is the estate of
Mr. F. Y. Hanna, an unoccupied house with a landing. About one-half mile in a
northeasterly direction from the landing, on Mr. Hanna’s property, is an irregular
mass of sand 6 feet inches in height and 75 feet across the base. An excavation
made in the center, LS feet by 24+ feet by + feet deep yielded four burials in ana-
tomical order. none over [|S inches from the surface. With one skeleton were two
bits of looking-glass, with another was a fragment of conch-shell. About one foot
from the surface were parts of an undecorated bowl. This mound, at a short dis-
tance below the superficial portion, was composed of that raw-looking bright yellow
sand, in which, ax we have stated, we have never yet net with interments.

Mounp ar Tropic, Brevarp Country.

Near the southern extremity of Merritt's Island is the settlement of Tropic.
On the property of Mr. M. F. Dwyer, of New York, in a cultivated pineapple patch,
wax asymmetrical mound of white sand, 3 feet 8 inches in height and £8 feet across
the hase. It was practically demolished. No stratification was noticed. A consider-
able number of fragmentary human remains. very badly decayed, including a num-
ber of isolated crania, were present at all depths. A number of Ints of plam
earthenware and several stamped in squares, were loose in the sand.  Kight small
shells (Dostnza discus) were found together, while masses of coquina and smaller
bits were present in the mound. .An oceasional fragment of Fadgur was met with.
Beyond this, greatly to our disappointment, for the mound had a very promising
appearance, nothing was discovered.

GLEASON Mounp, Brevarp County.

On the eastern bank of the Banana river, a short distance above its union with
the Indian river, in full view from the water, is a great shell-heap mainly composed
of the shells of marine bivalves (Dosezza discus), 1 section of which has been laid
bare by the river. In the “scrub,” about one-eighth of one mile in a northerly
Bl) MOUND INVESTIGATION ON THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA.

direction from this heap, is a mound on the property of ex-Governor Gleason, of
Kau Gallie, who courteously placed it at our disposal.

The mound, which is not symmetrical and had suffered from much superficial
investigation, has a height of about 10 feet and a diameter at base of about 150) feet.

The mound, which was thickly covered with undergrowth, was cleared by us
near the center of the summit plateau, giving a space about 32 feet in diameter,
which was dug through to a depth of from 5 to 7 feet. In addition to this, con-
siderable work was done on the northern and eastern slopes.

The sand, whitish in color, was unstratified.

Burials—all superficial and all in anatomical order—were numerous, about
thirty being met with.

With the majority of the bodies no relies were found. With others were flat
bits of coquina; portions of clam shells, showing wear, and occasionally a mass of
coquina.

Near human remains were three large glass beads and a round bead of silver,
apparently of European make.

With a burial about two feet from the surface was a sinall gorget of silver,

  

Fig. 4. Ornament of silver. Gleason mound. FiG.5. Ornament of brass. Gleason mound.
(Full size.) (Full size.)

oxidized, having three perforations, two apparently made with a sharp cutting tool,
the other bored from one side and countersunk (Fig. 4).

With another superficial burial, lying near the lower jaw, was a somewhat
similar ornament of brass (Fig. 5).

Ornaments of this type are not uncommon in Florida, though we have met
with none on the St. Johns.!

Loose in the sand throughout the mound were a few bits of ornamented
earthenware; one £ulgur carica, much worn at the beak, but without the usual
perforation; and one large marine shell (Fasczolaria). A considerable number of
these shells, all more or less broken as to the body whorl, lay near previous excava-
tions.

" The reader is referred to ‘* A Gold Ornament from Florida,” by A. E. Douglass, American Antiqua-
rian, January, 1890.
MOUND INVESTIGATION ON THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA. 21

Five feet from the surface were the remains of an undecorated bowl of con-
siderable size, which had been interred whole or nearly so. No human remains
were found.in the neighborhood of this bow], and it lay at a much greater depth than
any other, discovered by us. It had probably been lost or broken during the con-
struction of the mound.

From the eastern slope, with human remains, were taken two imperforate
drinking cups of shell, one within the other; another alone; and two beads of
silver seemingly of European workmanship.

As no burials or indications of interment (and discoloration of sand usually
shows where bones have been) were met with in the Gleason mound at a depth of
over 2 feet. we are of opinion that later Indians utilized for burial a pre-existing
mound.

Mocunps near Moutir or Banana River, Brevarp County

On the property of Mr. John Aspinwall, of New York, about one-half mile
south of the Gleason mound, 50 vards apart approximately, were two mounds in
thick » scrub.”

The smaller mound, about 4 feet in height, was dug through as to the central
portion, yielding a number of superficial burials of the bunched variety. With
some of these were small bits of coquina and of shell.

The larger mound, about 7 feet in height, yielded nothing to an investigation
conducted through the central portion.

Mounp NEAR St. Lucire River, Dave County,

About one and one-half miles above the railroad bridge, or six and one-half
miles, approximately, from the river's mouth, near the southern bank of the south
fork of the St. Lucie River, is « mound in the pine woods in full view from the stream.

Its height is about 6 feet above the general level on the south and west, while
on the other two sides deep depressions, made hy the removal of sand for the mound,
give it the appearance of much greater altitude

The diameter of its base is about 80 feet.

A considerable section was dug out from near the margin to the center and the
base of the central portion was carefully explored.

Several superficial burials were met with toward the center and two at differ-
ent points about 3 feet from the surface.

With the remains were no artifacts whatsoever.

Loose in the sand, separately, were two fragments of undecorated earthenware,
two bits of Hfematite and a number of pieces of charcoal.

At Spruce Bluff, up the north fork of the St. Lucie river, is a large mound which
we did not investigate. Considerable digging had been attempted in the central
upper portions. Residents reported no discoveries during these investigations.
22 FLORIDA COAST MOUNDS NORTH OF THE ST. JOHNS RIVER.

FLORIDA COAST MOUNDS NORTH OF THE ST. JOHNS RIVER.

By turning into Sisters creek near the mouth of the St. Johns river, an in-
land passage by water can be made to Fernandina. This inland route has been
carefully searched by us for mounds upon two occasions.

Low mound at the Sawpit, Duval County.

Low mound at Dr. Harrison's, Amelia Island, Nassau County..

Mound south of Suarez Bluff, Amelia Island, Nassau County.

Mound northeast of Suarez Bluff, Amelia Island, Nassau County.

Light-house mound, Fernandina, Nassau County.

A small mound at the Sawpit, about 10 miles north of the St. Johns river. 4
fect in height and 55 feet across the base, was completely dug through by us as to its
central portion. A few crumbling skeletons in anatomical order were discovered
unassociated with any art relics whatsoever.

On the southern end of Talbot Island, Duval County, on the property of My.
Spicer Houston, of Mayport, are two symmetrical sand mounds about one-half mile
apart. This gentleman values the right to investigate at one thousand dollars and
is still owner of undisturbed aboriginal earthworks.

Low Mounp at Dr. Harrison’s, AMELIA IsLAnp.

On the property of Dr. Robert Harrison, about one-half mile in an easterly
direction from his house, which overlooks the Amelia river at a point about one mile
in a southerly direction from Suarez Bluff (Amelia City, Nassau County) was a
mound 1.5 feet high and 30 feet across the base. It had sustained little if any pre-
vious investigation and was totally demolished by us.

It was composed of yellowish sand with pockets of white sand, and through
the central portion a layer of white sand several inches in thickness ran consider-
ably below the level of the surrounding territory.

Interments, probably a dozen in all were, curiously enough, marginal and
beneath the slope, no remains being met with m or near the central portion of
the mound. Both forms of burial, the bunched and that in anatomical order,
were present. In one case the remains were in part calcined, while other portions
of the skeleton were charred in places only. No charcoal or fire-whitened sand
lay with these bones which consequently must have been exposed to flames else-
where.

A number of the burials lay beneath deposits of oyster shells.

The remains were in much better state of preservation than is usually the case
in the mounds. One skull, almost intact, was preserved.!

With two crania, at different points, were numbers of longitudinally perforated.
shells (Olvella).

' Sent to the United States Army Medical Museum, Washington, D.C,
FLORIDA COAST MOUNDS NORTH OF THE ST. JOHNS RIVER.

Ww
te

With human remains was found a portion of the shaft of a large pin of shell,
showing recent fracture. The remainine part doubtless escaped us.
But two sherds were brought to our attention.

Movunpb SoutH or SuAREZ Buurr, AwenrA ISLANp.

In a large shell field about three-quarters of one mile in a southeasterly direc-
tion from Suarez Bluffton property belonging to Mr. Scott of that place, wax a
mound 6.5 feet high and 44 feet across the base. It had probably lost about 2 feet
in height through previous investigation.

The mound was built on a shell heap of irregular surface. A thickness of 6
feet of solid sand was at certain portions of the mound and searcely 2 feet at others.

About two-thirds of the mound was dug down.

Nineteen burials, from 1 to 6 feet from the surface, all in anatomical order, were
liscovered.

Ovcasional pockets of sand colored with /femadtete were near the base. A few
bits of pottery lay loose in the sand and at one point were fifteen marine univalves
(Fulgur carica, Fulour perversum, Pasciolaria). A few shell beads, lymg with a
skeleton, were the only artifacts discovered.

Mounp NorTHEAST OF SUAREZ Biurr, AMELIA ISLAND.

About 1.5 miles from Suarez Bluff was a mound 45 feet 2 inches in height with
a diaineter at base of 68 feet. About one-half of this mound, which was kindly placed
at our disposal by Mr. Jonathan Buzzell of Suarez Bluff, or Amelia City, as it is now

 
  

 

 

Scale,

£ gn feet. _ £0
E28 = Shell
< ots Sand.

Fic. 6. Section of mound northeast of Suarez Bluff.

called, was demolished by us. It was composed of yellowish sand with little, if any,
intermingling of charcoal. A layer of oyster shells and midden refuse, such as frag-
ments of bones of the turtle and of the deer, but apparently with no sherds, occu-
pied a central position in the mound. This deposit began about 1S feet from the
margin and was then a little over 2 feet from the surface, and apparently so through-
out. Its thickness was about 2 feet (see diagram), increasing toward the center.
There were no oyster shells in the marginal portion of the mound.

At one point in the marginal, or sandy portion, 1.5 feet from the surface was a
deposit of calcined fragments of bone, some belonging to the turtle. This mound
was evidently not a shell heap covered with sand, since the mass of shells, when en-
countered, did not present a sloping surface but showed an abruptly vertical surface 2
feet in height, very much as though the shells had been thrown into an excavation.
24 FLORIDA COAST MOUNDS NORTH OF THE ST. JOHNS RIVER.

No human remains or art relics, with the exception of one arrow head, were
met with.

Licut-wous—E Mounp, FERNANpINA, NAssAu County.

The light-house? mound, in a shell field and in the neighborhood of others,
about 150 yards south of the light-house, probably one mile east of the town of
Fernandina, was kindly placed at our disposal by Mr. E. D. Lukenbill of the Fer-
nandina Development Company. Our thanks are tendered for numerous courtesies
also to Mr. H. L. Linville, port warden of Fernandina.

The height of the mound, which was totally demolished by us, was 12 feet ;
the diameter of its base, 75 feet. It presented a very symmetrical appearance when
stripped of the dense vrowth of vegetation which covered it, the ascent at some
points being at an angle of 44°. Excavations 3 to + feet deep to the west and
northwest of the base showed whence the material wax derived. There had been
some previous investigation on the immediate summit.

COMPOSITION OF MOUND.

Structurally the mound was of considerable interest, the strata well defined.
Immediately in a central position was a cone of white sand, surrounded and sur-
mounted by the regular strata of the mound.

The stratification of the mound from the top downward, a little north of the
center, was as follows:

2 feet 6 inches—dirty brown sand.

1 foot dark sand with oyster shells.

1 foot pink sand mingled with oyster shells and with white sand.
5 feet 8 inches — yellow sand.

7 inches dark sand and oyster shells.

2 feet light sand to yellow sand of the base.

At various points in the mound were pockets of sand artificially colored with
Flematite.

The distance between the summit of the mound at the center to the yellow
sand at the base, where charcoal and human remains were wanting, was 15 feet.

HUMAN REMAINS.

Exclusive of loose bits of bone, doubtless thrown from the previous excavation
seventy-four skeletons, all seemingly in anatomical order, were met with and one
deposit of charred and calcined human remains. We are, of course, unable to
estimate the number of skeletons thrown out or carried away prior to our visit.
The first interment was encountered 10 feet in from the southwestern margin of the
base. With very few exceptions no art relics lay with human remains, and if we

' This mound must not be confounded with the remains of a mound near the water works in the
suburbs of the town.
lo
au

FLORIDA COAST MOUNDS NORTH OF THE ST. JOHNS RIVER

except a stone hatchet found with a skeleton & feet from the surface and some beads
of shell with another interment, no art relics were associated with burials in the
body or on the base of the mound.

In no previous mound work have we found so great a percentage of patho-
logical specimens as in this mound, and, as has not been the case in other mounds,
entire skeletons seemed affected, and not one or possibly two bones belonging to a
skeleton. The pathological conditions were so marked and cranial nodes so appa-
rent that. in view of the fact that no objects positively indicating White contact were
discovered in the mound, though the utmost care was exercised hy a trained corps
of assistants, we are compelled to regard the bones with the greatest interest since
evidence of contact with the whites being wanting we must look upou these bones
as of pre-Columbian origin. We may state here that all bones preserved by us came
from depths in the mound which insure their derivation from original burials. These
bones. found 8 to 12 feet from the surface, and lying beneath numerous undisturbed
layers are as unmistakably of an early origin as any vet described and much more
reliable than most.

Dr. Washington Matthews, whose memoir on the human bones of the Hemen-
way collection is so well known, has kindly consented to study and to report upon
these bones from the Light-house mound.

Perforation of the humerus.

Male. | Female. Uncertain.

 

 

 

aes, tee Le ae | gr Eee 5
‘ | Not . Not . Not
| Perforated: | perforated. per treven: Perforated. — Seen Perforated.
4 =e eee Ratt es eee Ce ee ae ee are
Right. 3 | rm | 4 3 4 Bs
| SS oe Yi
Left. | 8 7 6 2 3 2 |
|
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CANINE REMAINS.

Professor Wyman, as we have stated in a former paper, found no remains of
dog during his researches among the shell heaps of the St. Johns river. In point
of fact no practical work was done among the sand mounds by this pioneer of the
archwology of Florida.

In a shell-heap near the bank of the EKeonlockhatchee creek, Orange County,
we discovered 2 canine lower jaw which Professor Cope minutely examined. giving
his results, with figures, in the American Naturalist.

Professor Cope concluded that the jaw under examination belonged to an
unknown kind.

1 July, 1893, page 613.
4
26 FLORIDA COAST MOUNDS NORTH OF THE ST. JOHNS RIVER.

A canine jaw from another shell-heap examined subsequently, presented
features with which Professor Cope was unfamiliar.

On the base of the large sand mound at Tick Island, Volusia County.’ the
skeleton of a dog was found by us, the skull and certain other bones of which,
forwarded to Professor Cope, were passed upon ax follows by that eminent authority :
* The bones you send are those of a dog but of what species I ain not sure. It 1s
no wolf or coyote but differs from ordinary breeds of domestic dogs. Nevertheless,
it may be some form domesticated by the Indians, with which I am not familiar.”

Fifteen feet from the surface of the Light-house mound, or 3 feet below the
level of the surrounding territory, was discovered the skeleton of a dog.

The cranium has been submitted to Dr. C. Hart Merriam, who was, unfortu-
nately, unable to spare time for an exhaustive examination, beingabout to leave
town for the summer. According to Dr. Merriam the skull is not that of a coyote,
nor does it belong to any type ef domestic dog with which he is familiar.

Professor Cope is of opinion, after an examination of the skull, that it belongs
to neither wolf nor coyote, but is probably that of a domestic dog. though by no
means of necessity one obtained from Europeans.

There are, however, according to Professor Cope, certain domestic dogs whose
crania cannot be distinguished from those of wolves.

Professor Cope also made an examination of a canine skull from the great shell
deposit at Damariscotta, Maine, in which no articles of European origin have ever
been met with at a depth greater than a few inches from the surface. The Dama-
riscotta skull, according to Professor Cope, strongly resembles that from the Light-
house mound.

Professor Putnam, who has made a careful study of the skull from the Light-
house mound, writes as follows:

~ T have lately secured for comparison several dog skulls, among which is that
of «a mongrel grevhound. This skull resembles that of the covote more than it does
the gray wolf. It differs from the coyote, however, in being slightly more convex.
In the coyote the frontals are flatter than in the gray wolf.

“IT have a skull of an Irish setter which agrees with that of a gray wolf, ex-
cept that it is slightly higher over the orbits, and there is more of a concavity along
the union of the frontal bones. The jaws are also shorter. but the teeth are of
about the same size.

~T have the skull of an English collie which differs trom the gray wolf in the
same way as does the setter’s skull; that is, the frontal bones are shghtly more
concave in the center and a little higher. The jaws are proportionately shorter
than the jaws of the setter, and of course shorter than those of the wolf, and the
molar teeth are proportionately smaller.

* The skull of the collie agrees in size and height and convexity of the frontals

‘Certain Sand Mounds of the St. Johns River, Florida,” Part II, page 157, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci.
Vol. X.
28 FLORIDA COAST MOUNDS NORTH OF THE ST. JOHNS RIVER.
EARTHENWARE.

Sherds were infrequently met with, the majority being undecorated, though
several from marginal parts of the mound bore cord-marked and stamped decora-
tions. One bowl of about one pint capacity, with incised marginal decoration, lay
apparently unassociated on the base. It unfortunately received a blow from a
spade.

STONE.

Tn all, eight stone hatchets, or “celts,” were met with, as a rule, in caved sand
and probably from upper strata. One lay with a skeleton 3 feet from the surface.
With it were two large barrel-shaped beads of shell.

No arrow heads, whole or fragmentary, were met with. nor were any fragments
of chert, so numerous in many mounds, apparently present in this one.

SILELL.

Loose in the sand, separately, were two fine large marine shells (/a@sczolarza),
while at various depths were several heavy conchs (Fugur carica) worn and
chipped down at the beak and with a round or oblong perforation opposite the
aperture in the body-whorl between the shoulder and suture.

It has been customary to regard such shells as having served as war clubs.
We have elsewhere pointed out that in the great majority of cases they must have
been put to other uses, and give here some of our reasons :

1. The beak shows wear as by constant use.

2. The margin of the perforation is frequently smoothed as by continued
motion against a handle, which would not be so in the case of a club.

3. Some specimens are entirely too small to have been of any avail as weapons
of offence.

4. The hole is usually so placed that the handle would not be at right angles
to the shell as would be the case with a war club.

). The perforation is frequently too small to admit a handle of sufficient size
to deliver a heavy blow without danger of breaking.

Moreover, Mr. Frank Hamilton Cushing, who has recently explored certain
shell deposits of the southwestern coast of Florida. and who was fortunate enough
to find a number of these implements with handles in place, informs us that in his
opinion our position in this matter is the correct one.

These perforated Fudgurs were probably in use as picks, hoes, chisels, and the
like.

With a skeleton were three gouges of shell, and a similar implement was found
loose in the sand.

A drinking cup of shell (Fa/gur perversum) lay loose in the sand.

Two shell pins were met with separately, and so far as could be determined, un-
ST. MARY’S RIVER. 29

associated, though, in our opinion, they must have rolled from the neighborhood of
some skeleton.

Three feet from the surface, with human remains and a bone implement, was
a marine shell (Murex spinicostata) |

MISCELLANEOUS.

A bone piercing implement, with a length of 6.5 inches, closely resembling the
one to which reference has been made, was taken from a different portion of the
mound.

A canine tooth of a large carnivore lay loose in the sand.
COPPER.

Two very minute fragments of sheet copper, found separately, showed the
former presence of this metal in the mound.

REMARKS.

As we have stated, nothing that was necessarily the product of Europeans
came from the Light-house mound, and when a mound of this size, containing so
many skeletons, shows no contact with the Whites, it is justly regarded by arche-
ologists as having a pre-Columbian origin.

ST. MARY'S RIVER.

St. Mary’s river, having its source in the Okeefenokee swamp, enters Cuiber-
land sound near the town of Fernandina, and serves as boundary between portions
of Georgia and of Florida.

The stream, which hardly averages over 75 yards in breadth, a few miles dis-
tant from the sea, is navigable for other than small boats to the second railroad
bridge, a distance of about 30 miles by land, though probably double that distance
by the river.

At first the river runs through marsh land. though farther up it is bordered
by firm and at times high ground, mainly wooded with a thick growth of pine.
The river is famous for the excellent quality of its water, and one would believe
its banks to have been a chosen dwelling site for the aborigines.

The river was carefully searched by us on either side, all landings and settle-
ments being visited, and diligent inquiry made, resulting in the conclusion that no
mounds of importance, and an extremely limited number of any size, were present.

One small mound, partly dug through, was found on the Florida side on the

1 Determined by Professor H. A. Pilsbry, of the Academy of Natural Sciences.
30 ST. MARY’S RIVER.

property of Mr. Haddock, and another, about 2 feet in height, was seen at the
* Brick Yard” a few miles east of King’s Ferry. So well known along the river
was this insignificant earthwork that it was evident that no mound of importance
is likely to have escaped our inquiries, made as they were at all points where
habitations were apparent.

No shell-heaps were noticed on the banks.

Numbers of stones and fragments of rock proved to be ballast from timber
schooners. and not indigenous to the territory.

It is not probable that any farther work among the sand mounds will be done
by us in Florida.

The territory bordering the St. Johns river and the Ocklawaha river, and the
“lake” country beyond have been most thoroughly investigated by us. On the
east coast, which poorly repays the investigator. we have gone over the ground
previously covered by Mr. Douglass with conclusions that coincide with his. The
territory bordering the inland route between the St. Johns and the northern bound-
ary of Florida has likewise been subjected to careful research at our hands, and we
are happy to be able to state that the west coast of Florida and some of the larger
lakes are being, or are to be, looked into by competent investigators.

We. therefore. venture to hope that Florida. in the near future. instead of being
among the least known of our States as to its aboriginal remains, will rank among
the best explored. .

It is our intention, Providence permitting, to make a careful examination of
the mounds of the Georgia coast, and in fact we have in hand already considerable
material and notes as to the interesting aboriginal remains of that region, the result
of work during the spring of 1896, a report of which ana of additional work we
hope to make public at some future time.
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