182 



CERTAIN SA^D MOUNDS OF 



Almost in the centre of the mound, about 4 feet from the surface, was a layer 

 of brownish material, 2 feet long by 15 feet broad, and 3 inches in thickness. 

 This material was soluble in bisulphide of carbon, and when burnt upon platinum 

 foil, left a small whitish ash. It was bitumen. 



We are indebted to the United States Geological Survey for a paper 1 from which 

 we learn that bitumen has a wide distribution, being found, among many other 

 States, in North Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. It is also present in Cuba. We 

 are informed by chemists that analysis will not determine the locality from which 

 a particular asphalt is derived. 



On, and in some cases in, this layer of bitumen were four bits of quartz ; one 

 piece of chert ; a pebble about 3 inches in length ; an oval shell bead with lateral 

 perforation, 1*4 inches in length. This perforation was filled with the material in 

 which the bead lay. 



The use of bitumen as a medium of adhesion is not met with on the St. John's 



as in California, where vessels were repaired and im- 

 plements hafted through its agency. 



HUMAN REMAINS. 



Human remains were met with in but four places, 

 and in very fragmentary condition. The bunched burial 

 was indicated. 



Six feet from the surface, near fragmentary human 

 remains unaffected by fire, was a pocket containing a 

 considerable number of bits of calcined human bones. 



A previous excavation in the summit plateau of 

 this mound may have disturbed certain interments. 



STONE. 



In caved sand was a polished stone implement with 

 cutting edge, about two inches square. It had proba- 

 bly seen service in a handle as a chisel or scraper. 



Two feet from the surface, entirely unassociated, 

 was a lance head of chert, 5 inches in length, of a pat- 

 tern unknown on the St. John's, or, so far as we can 

 learn, elsewhere. Above the tang, extending 75 of an 

 inch, is a straight edge on either side. Above, well- 

 worked serration extends 15 inches to where the 

 weapon begins to taper sharply to a point (Fig. 52). 



Four feet from the surface was a small sheet of mica. 



EARTHENWARE. 



„ „ , The sherds of this mound, while not numerous, 



Fig. o2. Lance point of chert, . 



Racey Point. (Full size.) were interesting. Few were stamped. Some of good 



1 Asphaltum in 1893, by Clifford Richardson and E. W. Parker. 



