374 CERTAIN ABORIGINAL MOUNDS, CENTRAL FLORIDA W.-COAST. 



This mound, which had every appearance of belonging to the domiciliary class, 

 was carefully trenched by us wdthout the discovery of even' a remnant of bone or a 

 fragment of pottery. 



Mound near Giggek Point, Levy County. 



Gigger Point, which extends into the Gulf, is about three miles in a NE. direc- 

 tion from Cedar Kej's. At the rear of this point is the property of Mr. A. M. 

 Dorsett, resident on the place. The mound, circular in outline, was in a cultivated 

 field, and itself had been ploughed over for a considerable period. There had been 

 much previous digging in various parts of the mound, but in a superficial way only. 

 The diameter of base was 46 feet. The height, at the time of the total demolition 

 of the mound b\' us, was 5 feet, but the original height had been lessened at least 2 

 feet by recent digging, as was shown by partly uncovered roots of a palmetto on the 

 upper part of the mound. Fragments of human bones and bits of undecorated 

 earthenware were scattered over the surface in every direction. 



Burials were met with in everj' part of the mound, from the margin to the 

 center, the great majority being skeletons Avhich had been buried denuded of 

 flesh, but held together by ligaments. This was shown in various cases where 

 bones were inverted or otherwise out of their jDi'oper position. Two burials 

 lay in shallow graves beneath the base. Three were associated with oyster-shells, 

 not heavy masses of shell, but thin deposits above and on the sides. Sand, crimson 

 from hematite, was with one burial. 



Forty-six of the skeletons were flexed on the right ; 34 on the left. There were 

 also 3 skeletons full length on the back ; 3 squatting ; one parti 3^ flexed on the 

 left side; and the bones of an infant. In addition, there were in the mound : many 

 bones scattered bv previous diijgers ; several aboriginal disturbances made bv cuttins; 

 through skeletons to make way for others ; several skulls, each with a few small 

 bones in association ; one single skull near the base, which may have been an abo- 

 riginal disturbance. There were also several masses of bones which fell in caving 

 sand, and three or four burials which resembled the bunched variety, but may have 

 been aboriginal disturbances. 



The bones in this mound were in excellent condition, comparatively, which may 

 be accounted for by a deposit of shell extending through about one-half the mound, 

 as though a smaller mound had been covered with shell and then enlarged as to 

 height and area. It has ever been our experience that presence of shell in a mound 

 acts as a preservative to bones, doubtless through infiltration of lime-salts. 



Ten skulls were saved in good condition (Acad. Nat. Sci. Catalogue Nos. 2196 

 to 2205, inclusive). Neither these skulls nor any in the mound, noted by us, gave 

 evidence of cranial compression. 



Considering the number of burials present in the mound, artifacts met with were 

 few and unimportant. Unassociated, but perhajjs separated from burials by previous 

 digging, were: one lance-head of chert; mica, in two places; a clam-shell with a 

 neatl}' made circular hole near the center, probably for the insertion of a handle ; a 



