CERTAIN ABORIGINAL REMAINS, LOWER TOMBIGBEE RIVER. 207 
While the surface of the surrounding field was strewn with fragments of stone, 
practically no pottery was in evidence, and in the mound almost an equal scarcity 
of earthenware was noted. Of several bits met with, one bore the small check- 
stamp; another, the novel, incised decoration shown in Fig. 17. 
About 16 inches from the surface were a number of small fragments of sheet- 
copper, corroded through and through. On the base of the mound was. a copper 
ear-plug of the usual type or, more correctly speaking, the outer part of the ear- 
plug was present, that part which was worn behind the lobe of the ear, serving to 
hold the outer part in place, being missing. Possibly this part had been of some 
perishable material. Various materials, doubtless, were utilized by the aborigines 
for the rear portion of the ear-plug. In Florida we found ear-plugs with dises of 
sheet-copper to be worn in front of the ear, whieh had been attached to circular 
bits of earthenware for use behind the lobe. 
Just below the surface, together, were two outer halves of ear-plugs of sheet- 
copper, with beaded margins. 
MOUND ох THE WATTERS’ PLANTATION, MARENGO COUNTY, 
The Watters’ plantation, the property of Mr. J. A. Watters, of Mobile, is on 
the eastern side of the river, opposite Brown’s Landing. The mound, 5 feet high 
and 54 feet across its circular base, is but a few feet from the water's edge, in a cul- 
tivated field. There was no sign on the surface of previous digging, the mound 
presenting a peculiarly uniform and rounded appearance. Later, however, evidence 
that one or two narrow and superficial holes had been made and refilled, became 
apparent. As the mound was suitable as a refuge for cattle in flood-time, a marginal 
part 10 feet in diameter on all sides was left untouched by us, and the part enclosed 
by this, 34 feet across, was completely dug away at a level somewhat below that of 
the base of the mound. In this way that part of the mound most exposed to wash 
of water was left intact, and this was accomplished presumably with no loss to our- 
selves as nothing material was met with until considerable digging had been done, 
the first burial found being 5 feet in from where the excavation was commenced. 
The mound was composed of sand with a small admixture of clay. 
At the beginning of our digging, 3.5 feet down, on the base, which was clearly 
marked in this mound, we came upon a fire-place. We cannot say how far this 
fire-place extended outward, but when uncovered by us it was present along the cir- 
cumference of the northern half of the mound and continued in for about 6 feet. 
It was marked by burnt earth and a layer of charcoal with a maximum thickness 
of 1.5 inches. 
Scattered through the mound were the usual fragments of quartzite; eight 
arrowheads, knives, scrapers, and drills, of the same material; and one neat little 
bird-arrowhead of chert, somewhat broken. А few bits of earthenware were scat- 
tered through the mound, chiefly undecorated, though two or three bore the small 
check-stamp. 
Human remains were encountered in thirty-two places, mainly in the more 
