HKDLfCKA) 



SKELETAL KEMAINS 



61 



places are irregularly scattered throughout the mass of shells at dif 

 ferent levels. Shell implements and some fragments of culinary pot 

 tery were encountered, but no burials. 



Situated near the base of the promontory and not covered by the 

 shell mound is the so-called hammock land, a layer of black soil com 

 posed largely of decayed organic matter mixed with sand. There are 

 several depressions in this piece of land, which to-day is covered by 

 n orange orchard. One such depression is situated between the 

 shell mound, near its southeastern end, and a low burial mound over 

 which passes a Avagoii road leading to Mr. Webb s residence. It was 

 in this hollow, less than 30 feet from the base of the burial mound, 

 that Mr. Webb discovered in 1871 his first human fossil, the specimen 

 now known as the Osprey skull. Mr. Webb, who is still alive and 

 in good health, conducted the writer to the locality, and there, with 

 the assistance of a laborer, a trench was dug 15 feet long, 6 feet wide, 

 and a little more than 3 feet deep. No bones were found, but the 

 character and condition of 

 the deposits was seen to ad 

 vantage (figure 9). Imme 

 diately below the surface were 

 from 15 to 20 cm. (6 to 8 

 inches) of black soil, somewhat 

 mixed with white sancl, under 

 which was a layer of white 

 sand. Two feet below the sur 

 face this layer showed patches 

 of yellowish to rusty discolora 

 tion, due without doubt to dep-- 

 osition of- iron. Some shells 

 were found in this sand, but no concretions. Seventy-four cm. (29 

 inches) below the surface was encountered a more compact, greenish 

 layer, consisting of sand, clay, and fine gravel; this extended to the 

 full depths of the excavation. The limonite skull was recovered from 

 the middle of the sandy layer, and presumably, from the description, 

 near its base. 



The exact location of the North Osprey find was not remembered 

 by Mr. Webb (the information given was obtained subsequently 

 from his son) and in consequence the spot could not be located, but it 

 also was in the dry bed of a small pond. 



It remained to explore the locality where the South Osprey skeleton 

 was found. Mr. Webb led the party to the spot. Since the date of 

 the find the shore has suffered some loss by erosion, but the general 

 conditions remain unchanged (figure 10). The shore is low, the 

 elevation averaging perhaps 2 feet above high tide. Beginning at the 

 surface the soil consists (figure 11) of a layer of varying depth much 



FIG. 9. Section of deposits showing position of the 

 Osprey skull, a, Black soil mixed with sand, 15 to 

 20 cm. (6 to 8 in.); b, White sand, showing in lower 

 parts yellow patches due to ferruginous deposits, 50 

 to 60 cm. (20 to 24 in.) ; c, About where Osprey skull 

 lay; d, Greenish clayey, sandy, and gravelly layer, 

 74 cm. (29 in.) below surface. Extent unknown. 



