82 CERTAIN SAND MOUNDS OF 



During the progress of the investigation a number of sherds were met with 

 from vessels of much greater size than any discovered by us in perfect condition. 

 They were stamped in squares or in diamonds and were not in association with the 

 remainder of the vessels to which they belonged. It was evident that these and 

 innumerable fragments of small pots were interred with uninjured objects. 



Beneath a portion of the deposit were found 10 to 12 skeletons of adults. 

 They were covered by about one foot of sand which included the pottery. They 

 were apparently a continuation of the interments with which were the gold and the 

 silver ornaments. The iron axe was found in a different portion of the mound. 



It will be noticed that nothing indicating intercourse with the civilization of 

 Europe was found other than superficially in the Thursby mound. 



Huntoon Island, Lake County. 



Immediately opposite the Thursby mound on the west bank of the St. John's 

 is Huntoon Island. At this place are great shell deposits, a section being laid bare 

 by the action of the river. A short distance from the river bank are two symmetrical 

 mounds of shell with a certain admixture of sand Their nature has not been deter- 

 mined, though a superficial examination was made by Professor Wyman. 1 Unfor- 

 tunately for the cause of science, Mrs. Thursby, the former owner, has recently dis- 

 posed of the property to Mr. G. A. Dreka of De Land, who refuses permission to 

 investigate. 



Sand Motnd at Stark's Grove, Volusia County. 



On the southeastern shore of Lake Beresford is Stark's Grove. Near the water's 

 edge is a small deposit of shell, while about 400 yards from the dwelling is a 

 mound of sand about 200 yards east of the lake. Its height is 8 feet, its circum- 

 ference 370 feet. On the south a marked depression exists from which the mate- 

 rial of the mound was probably taken. The mound bears no mark of previous 

 investigation, its owner, Mrs. Stark, to whom we are indebted for permission to 

 explore, having carefully preserved it from unsystematic search. An excavation in 

 the center showed the mound to be formed of various strata, including shell. At a 

 depth of 2 feet la}' a skeleton immediately under a 1) inch stratum of shell. With 

 it lay a few fragments of pottery roughly ornamented in squares. From the lower 

 jaw every tooth was missing and the alveolar process had been entirely absorbed. 

 Neither humerus was perforated, Avhile the one tibia recovered gave an index of 84. 

 This mound was not sufficiently investigated to admit of final conclusions. 



1 Op. cit. page 26, et neq. 



