356 CERTAIN ANTIQUITIES OF THE FLORIDA WEST-COAST. 



irregular layers of sand and of shell, the exterior being of sand. Several bits of 

 rude, undecorated ware, one fragmentary bone piercing implement, a bit of chert 

 lance-head were the only relics met with. 



One hundred and thirty feet N. from the eastern end of the mound is an exca- 

 vation of circular outline, 91 feet in diameter and 6 feet 7 inches deep, from which 

 sand for the mound was taken. Another excavation 94 feet by 78 feet, similar in 

 character and of the same depth, lies 125 feet E. S. E. from the eastern end of the 

 mound. 



A number of low sand mounds in the neighborhood of the one described gave 

 no feature of interest. 



There are several low mounds near St. Petersburg, which have been dug into. 

 In addition^ in the town, on the property of Mr. J. A. Armistead, of St. Petersburg, 

 who granted permission to investigate, are two mounds in a field. One is conical, 

 of shell and very steep ; the other, of sand, has a rather unpromising appearance. 



At the northern extremity of old Tampa Bay, near Safety Harbor, permission 

 to dig was refused. 



Near Tampa are two mounds which have been dug through by treasure 

 seekers, it is said. 



Mounds on Alafia River, Hillsboro County. 



The Alafia river runs into Hillsboro Bay, a part of Tampa Bay. 



Riverview is a small settlement about 5 miles up the Alafia river. About 1 

 mile farther up on the opposite side of the river, somewhat back from the landing, 

 is an unstratified sand mound where considerable digging was without result. 



About one-half mile above the mouth of the river is Shell Bluff, the property 

 of Mr. R. E. Gibson, in whose orange grove is a low, irregularly shaped sand 

 mound about 2 feet in height, with a diameter of 55 feet at present time. Owing 

 to presence of orange trees, trenching only was attempted. A considerable number 

 of burials were met with, flexed and lying on the left side as a rule. No artifacts 

 were with the remains. 



Mill Point is less than one-half mile above the mouth of the Alafia river, on 

 the right-hand side going down. At this point are a number of aboriginal works 

 which are shown on the accompanying plan (Fig. 2). Investigation was made by 

 us with the consent of Mr. W. B. Henderson, of Tampa, to whom we are indebted, 

 in addition, for kindness shown us in other ways. 



Along the banks of the river are shell ridges (A) with a maximum height of 

 8 feet. In rear of these ridges are shell fields and other ridges running back, not 

 shown on the plan. Parallel with the water of a sort of bay to the east of the 

 point, is a steep ridge of sand (B) terminating abruptly at either end, containing 

 local layers of shell. A certain amount of investigation in this ridge, which is 148 

 feet long, about 62 feet wide at the base and somewhat over 11 feet high, gave no 

 indication of interments. A roadway about 30 feet wide at its central part : 



