NO. 13 ARCHEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS IN FLORIDA FFAVKES 9 



Another type of mourtd occurring" in the Weeden Island ckistcr 

 structurally belongs to a second type classified as domiciliary mounds. 

 This type shows indications of being used as the sites of houses, which 

 were frail structures made of a framework of upright logs to which 

 were tied sticks for the sides, the roof being thatched with palmetto 

 leaves, and the whole building raised a few feet above the surface 

 of the ground. The number of these mounds was not determined, 

 as they are situated so close together that they merge into each other, 

 indicating a settlement of considerable size and a large population. 

 They are now covered with trees and other vegetation. Trial pits 

 showed the existence of shells in profusion, organic matter, and 

 a few artifacts, but extensive excavations are necessary to reveal 

 their true nature. 



To give the reader an idea of the probable appearance of a Tampa 

 Bay village in 1540, the author cannot do better than to quote the 

 description of a settlement called Ucita by the Gentleman of Elvas, 

 a contemporary of De Soto. This village is known to have been 

 situated on the shore of Tampa Bay and its site may have been that 

 of the Weeden Island mounds. He writes as follows : 



On the 25th of the month [of May, 1539], being the festival of Espiritu 

 Santo, the land was seen, and anchor cast a league from shore, because of 

 the shoals. On Friday, the 30th, the army landed in Florida, two leagues 

 from the town of an Indian chief named Ucita. Two hundred and thirteen 

 horses were set on shore, to unburden the ships, that they should draw the 

 less water ; the seamen only remained on board, who going up every day a 

 little with the tide, the end of eight days brought them near to the town. 



So soon as the people were come to land, the camp was pitched on the 



sea-side, nigh the baj% which goes up close to the town At night the 



Governor, with a hundred men in the pinnaces, came upon a deserted town ; 

 for, so soon as the Christians appeared in sight of land, they were descried, and 

 all along on the coast many smokes were seen to rise, which the Indians 

 make to warn one another. The next day Luis de Moscoso, Master of the 

 Camp, set the men in order. The horsemen he put in three squadrons — the 

 vanguard, battalion, and rearward ; and thus they marched that day and the 

 next compassing great creeks which run up from the bay; and on the first 

 of June, being Trinity Sunday, they arrived at the town of Ucita, where 

 the Governor tarried. 



The town was of seven or eight houses, built of timber and covered with 

 palm-leaves. The Chief's house stood near the beach, upon a very high 

 mount rnade by hand for defence; at the other end of the town was a temple, 

 on the top of which perched a wooden fowl with gilded eyes, and within were 

 found some pearls of small value, injured by fire, such as the Indians pierce 

 for beads, much esteeming them, and string to wear about the neck and 

 wrists. The Governor lodged in the house of the Chief, and with him Vasco 

 Porcallo and Luis de Moscoso ; in other houses, midway in the town, was 

 lodged the Chief Castellan, Baltasar de Gallegos. where were set apart the 



