CERTAIN ABORIGINAL MOUNDS OF THE GEORGIA COAST. 31 



13 parts of skeletons disturbed by aboriginal pits. 

 7 fragmentary skeletons, in caved sand, disturbed by the plow, etc. 

 3 skeletons in the last stage of decay. 

 Skeletons. — Of the 220 skeletons the following subdivision as to sex may be 

 made, prefacing it with the explanation that, under the head of uncertain sex are 

 included such skeletons whose characteristics were not sufficiently marked for 

 determination ; and such others, mainly from pits in the damp sand, whose advanced 

 state of decay made a definite conclusion impossible : 



78 males. 16 adolescents. 



64 females. 12 children. 



47 uncertain. 3 infants. 



These skeletons lay in the following positions : 

 166 flexed on the right side. 

 32 flexed on the left side. 

 7 partially flexed on the right side. 

 6 partially flexed on the left side. 

 2 with extremities flexed and trunk on back. 



2 extended at full length. 

 1 semi-reclining. 



1 body on back, thighs flexed to either side. 



3 infants disturbed by our men in digging. 



The two skeletons buried at full length on their backs were 2 feet and 2.5 feet 

 from the surface, respectively. The condition of the bones of both was exception- 

 ally good but one cannot base final conclusions upon the state of preservation of 

 bones. The arms of one lay along the trunk, while those of the other were flexed 

 to the pelvis. No aboriginal artifacts were present with either, nor, on the other 

 hand, were buttons, coffin-nails, or any like object, discovered though specially 

 careful search was made. 



The direction in which the skeletons headed was as follows : 185 were included 

 between the compass points S. E. and S. W., many being due S. Of the remaining 

 35—21 headed south of the E. and W. points ; 4 headed due E.; 1, E. by N.; 1, E. 

 N. E.; 1, N. E. by E.; 1, N. E. by N.; 2, W. N. W.; 1, W. by N.; while the 

 positions of the 3 infant skeletons inadvertently scattered by our diggers, were not 

 determined. 



The bones were in fairly good condition though in nearly every case the crania 

 were badly crushed. No fractures were present, a considerable number of diseased 

 bones were met with. Caries of the teeth, practically absent in Florida from other 

 than superficial skeletons, was met with upon a number of occasions. Muscular 

 attachments indicated less powerful individuals than many interred in Florida mounds. 

 No marked platycnemia or pilastered femurs were present with one marked excep- 

 tion. A pair of femurs from an undoubtedly original burial have indices of about 

 159, which is greater, we believe, than any ever before recorded. 1 This index is 



1 Dr. Topinard has contributed an interesting note on a femur found by us in the mound at 

 Tick Island, Florida. " Certain Sand Mounds of the St. Johns Eiver, Florida," Part I. 



