﻿NO. 7 



SMITHSONIAN EXPLORATIONS. I926 



201 



Here he was fortunate in having the co-operation of Mr. Randolph A. 

 Bazet, who is deeply interested in the local archeology and who was 

 able to supply valual)le information on the many earth mounds and 

 shell deposits of Terrebonne Parish. Such remains were found in 

 unexpected numbers along the lakes and bayous, ranging from com- 

 paratively small accumulations of shells mixed with charcoal, pot- 

 sherds, bones and other refuse to huge deposits of the same material, 

 or " islands " as they are locally called, sometimes a hundred yards 

 or more wide, al)out lo feet above the marsh level, and extending in 

 some cases for a distance of almost a quarter of a mile. These Terre- 



FiG. 198. — Mound on the Fairview Plantation, Berwick, La. About six 

 feet below the surface was a thin stratum of tire-burned earth in which were 

 found seven pits or Jireplaces. 



bonne Parish shell heaps, or kitchen middens, and the others 

 throughout southern Louisiana, are composed almost entirely of the 

 shells of a small brackish water clam, Rangia cuneata, which is very 

 common in the bayous and lakes of the Gulf region. They represent 

 merely the accumulated kitchen refuse of the Indians who once lived 

 along these water ways. The clams were eaten, and the shells, along 

 with other trash, were cast aside until in the course of time an ex- 

 tensive heap was formed. 



After devoting some lo days to the mounds and shell heaps of 

 Terrebonne Parish, investigation was made of those to the west and 

 north, at Gibson, Lake Palourde, Bayou I'Ours, Berwick, Charenton 

 and Avery Island. Having examined and carried on minor excava- 



