

A REMARKABLE MOUND DISCOVERED IN 

 BRITISH GUIANA. 



A. Hyatt Verrill. 



Although stone implements and fragments of pottery have been 

 found throughout a large portion of British Guiana, and numerous exten- 

 sive shell heaps or kitchen middens exist near the coast, yet hitherto, no 

 proofs of large prehistoric settlements or of a numerous population have 

 been discovered. 



During the month of June, 1917, I discovered some most remark- 

 able remains of Aboriginal inhabitants which appear to indicate a vast 

 population where no Indians exist to-day and which, as I shall endeavour 

 to explain, probably antedate all other known remains in north-eastern 

 South America. 



Indians are found to-day throughout a very large portion of British 

 Guiana, and along nearly all the rivers, but a most curious fact is that 

 certain rivers, such as the Abary and upper Corentyne, are absolutely 

 barren of Aboriginal inhabitants. This is the more remarkable inasmuch 

 as both rivers teem with fish, the soil along their banks is fertile, crame 

 is abundant and there is an ample supply of timber, wood, and other 

 vegetation essential to Indian life. On the Courautyne the inscribed 

 " Timehri " rocks point to former denizens, but on the extensive 

 savannahs, which border the Abary, no monuments to a former population 

 are visible. 



None of the existing Indian tribes can give an explanation for 

 this avoidance of the two streams, and I determined to make a thorough 

 investigation of the Abary district and discover, if possible, any remains 

 of former inhabitants. 



Throughout the district the savannahs are dotted with so-called 

 " islands," — copses of palms and other trees standing boldly up from the 

 level sea of grass, while, scattered about, mainly near the river, are 

 smaller knoll-like "islands" usually overgrown with grass and coarse 

 weeds and often with a few small trees or shrubs, or a palm or two. 



In my investigations among the Caribs I had often found these 

 islands inhabited by the Indians and I decided that if any traces of former 

 inhabitants were to be found they would in all likelihood be upon these 

 islands. But several of the wooded islands were investigated without 

 result, their existence being due to a slightly higher and better soil than 

 that of the surrounding savannahs and consisting of a layer of loam o^er 

 a bed of clay resting on coarse, residual sand. 



I then turned my attention to some fairly dry verdured land further 

 up the river and which formed a sort of cape or peninsula extending for 



