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



photograph of the copper disc from Crj-stal river. This seems to belong to the 

 same type of symbolic forms as many of the sheet-copper objects from the Hopewell 

 and Turner mounds/ although the mechanical execution of your ornament is 

 inferior to similar objects from these groups. 



" This may well be symbolic of an animal god, probablj- the bear, combined 

 with the cosmic sign. The animal's head is drawn double, and the design appears 

 the same when reversed. One pair of ears, two eyes and one head answer for both 

 animals, but there are separate mouths, nostrils and necks. The five nearl}' paral- 

 lel perforations upon the neck, also duplicated upon the opjaosite side, doubtless 

 represent the claws of the bear. This symbol occurs several times in modified 

 form in objects of bone and copper from the Hopewell group, and is still used as a 

 bear sign by modern Indians. It seems to me that this mark may be the distin- 

 guishing mark of the animal represented. 



" The outer circle and four perforated arms doubtless form a cosmic symbol 

 representing the horizon and four directions. The central perforation may also 

 represent the central circle usually present, especially as it seems to have no con- 

 nection with the head of the animal. The arms rej^resenting the four quarters 

 are pushed out of their normal position to make room for the central head." 



In Figs. 55, 56 are given, from Mr. Willoughby's designs, part of the copper 

 disc, showing the animal head with the bear symbol beneath, and the copper disc 

 with the animal symbols removed, leaving the cosmic sign. 



Another pair of ear-plugs, side and top views of which are shown in Figs. 57, 

 58, where two missing parts are represented in broken lines, had for decoration on 



Fig. 59. — Silver-coatetl ear-plug of copper. Upper and lower parts. Mound near Crystal river. (Full size.) 



top, a thin coating of sheet-silver,^ hammered on. There is a concave circle in the 

 center and four crescent-shaped open spaces. 



The third pair of ear-plugs, wrapped in bark or vegetable fiber and in a woven 



' For farther information on this interesting subject we would call the reader's attention to 

 "Symbolism in Ancient American Art," by F. "\V. Putnam and C. C. Willoughby, "Proceedings of 

 the American Association for the Advanceinent of Science." Vol. XLIV, 1896. 



" Sheet-gold, sheet-silver, sheet Iron (meteoric) have been found in various mounds in Ohio, in 

 which no objects distinctly of European provenance have been met with. 



