110 CERTAIN ABORIGINAL MOUNDS OF THE GEORGIA COAST. 



The entire northern half of the mound was dug down leaving a cross-section 

 almost E. and W. Subsequently the central portion of the remaining half was 

 dug out. The remainder of the mound was not investigated. 



Upon the light yellow undisturbed sand beneath the mound, but below the 

 outer portions only, was a dark band, averaging 1 foot in thickness, composed of 

 black loam, fragments of oyster shells and bits of charcoal. Farther in, this band 

 was replaced by a layer of oyster shells from 6 inches to 1 foot in thickness which 

 continued through the mound. This black band and shell deposit we regarded as 

 marking the original level of the ground. The deposit of oyster shells, however, 

 divided in places and, coming together again, enclosed masses of dark yellow sand, 

 about 1 foot in thickness and 3 to 4 feet in length. Supposing the layer of shells 

 to be the base line, we are at -a loss to account for the presence of the sand. 



While the height of the mound was but 8 feet above the immediately surrounding- 

 level, the perpendicular distance from its apex to the upper margin of the black 

 band was 10 feet. This apparent discrepancy, we suppose, may be accounted for 

 under the hypothesis that a deposit of midden refuse, made subsequent to the 

 completion of the mound, had surrounded it to a height of 2 feet and over. 



The body of the mound was composed of yellow sand darkened by the presence 

 of much organic matter. This sand was irregularly streaked in places and contained 

 here and there local layers of shell, and of sand reddened with admixture of the 

 oxide of iron. 



Though there was no general deposit of oyster shells covering the surface, as 

 was the case with Mound B, a great central pit, filled with oyster shells was present 

 with an out-cropping through the immediately central parts of the mound. The 

 dark yellow sand of the body of the mound was covered with an irregular layer of 

 rich black surface loam. 



We have referred to a deposit of shell contiguous to the mound. This deposit 

 joined the mound and included that part of the margin lying between E. by N. and 

 N. N. E., and had a breadth of 27 feet converging from a small beginning at either 

 end to a depth of 7 feet 10 inches. Four and one-half feet in from the margin of 

 the mound as taken by us, the deposit had a breadth of 12 feet, and, instead of 

 solid shell, as before, was from the surface down : 



Shell .... 3 feet 7 inches Dark sand . . . . 3 inches 



Brown sand. . 1 foot 2 inches Light brown sand . . 6 inches 



Shell .... 1 foot 6 inches Undisturbed sand. 



The black band, to which we have referred, cut through by this curious com- 

 bination, was visible at either side, its upper margin being 2 feet 6 inches below the 

 surface. The deposit disappeared a few feet farther in from the point where the 

 measurement was taken. 



Sherds were of frequent occurrence. With the exception of 2 or 3 from the 

 immediate surface, all were undecorated or cord-marked — the latter predominating. 

 The reader will recall that in Mound B also no ware with the complicated stamp 

 was discovered. 



