159 CERTAIN ABORIGINAL REMAINS, BLACK WARRIOR RIVER. 
Ata depth of 9.5 feet from the upper level, or 3 feet below the lower one, 
where certain pits were, was an interesting ceremonial axe of plutonic rock, with 
flaring edge, about 6.5 inches in length (Fig. 26). This axe, which much resembles 
one found by us in the famous mound at Mt. Royal, Florida, had red oxide of iron 
adhering to it at one place. About 2 inches of the upper part, away from the 
blade, where the handle had been, was not polished like the rest of the implement, 
being finished more or less in the rough. 
Perhaps a recapitulation of the results of this excavation may not be out of 
place. 
We have here a mound 15.5 feet high at the central part, which originally had 
a height of but 9 feet. It was occupied for a period while at the latter level, and 
burials were made in pits dug from its surface. Later, the height of the mound was 
increased by 6.5 feet, and the summit plateau of this enlarged mound was again 
used locally as a place for burials. 
FIG. 27.—Ceremonial axe of copper, with part of handle in place. Mound С. (Full size.) 
It was evident to us that the mound had undergone but two stages of occu- 
pancy, as there were no change in the material below the lower level of which we 
have spoken, and no sign of a pit having a beginning lower than this level 9 feet 
above the base. 
It occurred to us, as a point of interest, carefully to note the earthenware from 
the lower part of this mound in order to learn whether or not a difference existed 
between it and the earthenware found above, but as no vessels were found in the 
original mound, and as but two small, undecorated sherds were obtained by our men 
there, means for comparison were wanting. 
