200 CERTAIN SAND MOUNDS OF 



Many other sherds of types of decoration uncommon on the St. John's were 

 found at various depths (Plate XXXII, Figs. 1 and 2). 



Attention is called to the fact that no earthenware in this mound showed base 

 perforation of any sort, as was the case at Racey Point. 



CONCLUSIONS. 



So continued had been the cultivation of the two mounds at Beauclerc that 

 objects superficial when found, had unquestionably originally been placed at a much 

 greater distance from the surface. It is our opinion that nothing in these mounds 

 was of secondary introduction, and that the mounds, through absence of all evidence 

 tending to connect them with White occupation, were abandoned prior to the coming 

 of Europeans. 



Grant Mound, Duval County. 



The Grant Mound, on a high bluff overlooking the southern bank of the river, 

 at a point about 2 miles west of Mill Cove, has a base diameter of 216 feet. Its 

 height above the level of the bluff is 26 feet 8 inches ; its shape, the usual trunca- 

 ted cone, so symmetrical in this case that the diameter of the summit plateau is but 

 24 feet. 



The owner of the mound, James B. Grant, Esq., to whom with his family we 

 are indebted for many courtesies, gave cordial permission to investigate, though a 

 natural desire on the part of the owner to preserve so notable a landmark prevented 

 an attempt to demolish the mound. Unfortunately, unless a change of channel 

 occurs, this great aboriginal work will fall a prey to the river into which fully one- 

 third of its material has already gone, furnishing to neighboring residents a rich 

 harvest of aboriginal relics. 



Six days, with a force of 16 men in all were devoted to the mound. Its com- 

 position, judging from the parts exposed by us and section laid bare by the water, is of 

 yellow sand with a base blackened by fire, containing a heavy percentage of char- 

 coal. Charcoal to a much less extent is sprinkled throughout the mound, while small 

 local layers and pockets of gray sand and of white sand, both of natural hue, and 

 of red, of pink, and of cherry sand colored by Hematite, abound, usually in connec- 

 tion with human remains and aboriginal relics. Near the surface beneath the sum- 

 mit plateau were masses of oyster shells, while single shells are scattered throughout 

 the mound. 



HUMAN REMAINS. 



The form of burial was that of bundles of bones piled without reference to 

 anatomical order. In no case was the entire skeleton represented, and frequently 

 but small portions were found. One bundle of bones was made up of six femurs 

 and two humeri belonging to at least four different individuals. All bones were in 

 the last stage of decay, making impossible any successful attempt at preservation. 



