326 CERTAIN ABORIGINAL REMAINS OF THE NW. FLORIDA COAST. 



saud, black and tenacious, probably from adjacent swamps. Below this, varying 

 from 1 to 2 feet in thickness, was a stratum of clay more densely- packed as it 

 approached the center, until, under the summit plateau, the removal necessitated the 

 use of a mattock or of a grubbing-hoe. 



Throughout that part of the mound investigated bj' us, sometimes near the 

 base, but usually not far from the surface, were scattered masses of lime rock similar 

 to those we have described. These masses, as we shall see, often accompanied 

 burials, but sometimes they lay unassociated with human remains. 



During our work, seventeen burials, much decayed, were met with in various 

 parts of the mound. Of these, fourteen burials were near the present surface of the 

 mound and three flexed burials, unaccompanied by rocks, lay almost on the base. 

 Of the superficial burials, eight were bunched, lying under masses of rock, and four 

 were of the same class of burial, without rocks. One flexed burial lay beneath 

 rocks, while two skulls, together, were surrounded by them. 



Fig. 315. — Vessel No. 3. Mound near the Aucilla river. (Nine-tenths size.) 



With the exception of several bits of chert, no artifacts lay directlj' with the 

 dead. Somewhat apart from them, separately, were : one chert arrowhead or knife ; 

 a lancehead or dagger, of chert, 4.5 inches long; many chips of chert, scatterd here 

 and there ; several perforated shell drinking cups. These cups lay with the pottery 

 deposit and probably were considered mortuary vessels. 



At a short distance from the margin of the mound, in the eastern part as usual, 

 b?gan a small deposit of earthenware with the usual sherds and portions of vessels. 

 The sherds, in the main, were of excellent quality. The cheek stamp was repre- 

 sented but once or twice. There were also the effigy-head of a dog (Fig. 313) and 



