374 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1934 



be populated by the Indians, and that this migration was so late that 

 no marked cultural changes had time to develop. The excavations 

 herein discussed tend to strengthen this general viewpoint. 



BELLE GLADE SITE, PALM BEACH COUNTY 



The Belle Glade site consists of a refuse mound approximately 100 

 by 150 yards in extent and an adjoining sand burial mound. The 

 site is located in the Everglades a mile and a half west of the town 

 of Belle Glade, an area formerly occupied by the Calusa Indians, 



A section 70 by 20 feet was excavated near the northwest part of 

 the shell mound, which yielded a quantity of potsherds and artifacts 

 of bone, shell, stone, and wood. The shell mound reached a maxi- 

 mum height of 7 feet from its base in the area explored. The base 

 of the mound now rests 2 feet or more below the surface of the 

 surrounding land, and on its outer margin shows an accumulation 

 of a foot or more of muck on top of the shell and debris. On the 

 south part of the mound there is a slight elevation about 2 feet 

 higher than the general level of the mound that may represent a 

 platform upon which a structure was built. The site was located 

 between the forks of the Democrat River, a stream that has now been 

 largely obliterated as a result of drainage operations. The burial 

 mound was on the opposite side of the minor fork from the habita- 

 tion site. 



Preliminary investigations seem to show a rather static culture at 

 this site, the same type of objects occurring at all levels. The bone 

 implements consisted in the main of arrow and spear points, awls, 

 and long pins. Deer-horn artifacts were plentiful and included 

 awls, flaking implements, and adz holders. An interesting object 

 recovered is what seems to have been a deer headdress consisting of 

 a small portion of the skull with the antlers attached. The antlers 

 have been polished and hollowed out so as to make them light in 

 weight. 



Marine shells were used extensively in the manufacture of imple- 

 ments and utensils. Conch shell " hoes ", adzes, cups, spoons, pend- 

 ants, plununets, and other ornaments were abundant at the site. 

 Shell, as a raw material, largely replaced stone in this region, which 

 is virtually devoid of any suitable rock for use in the fabrication of 

 artifacts. Some stone artifacts, however, were found. These in- 

 cluded elbow-shaped sandstone pipes, rubbing stones, and chipped 

 points or knives. 



A great number of houseposts were uncovered during the excava- 

 tion. The position of these in the ground gave little information 

 about the house plans beyond showing a rectilinear type of con- 

 struction. 



