244 CERTAIN SAND MOUNDS OF 



from the Etowah Mound, Georgia, and certain other productions on copper and on 

 shell from other parts of the Union were derived, or at least drew their inspiration, 

 from Mexico. Whether, however, similar works of art are present in Florida is 

 still a secret of the mounds. We have found in the mound at Bluffton a tube of 

 Andesite, a volcanic product possibly from Arizona, not met with on the mainland 

 nearer than the Rockies, a certain indication of extended intercourse ; but beyond 

 this no object probably exotic has rewarded our search on the river. 



As to Caribbean influence in Florida, theories of which are based upon certain 

 ceramic decoration, we do not feel ourselves fitted to judge. 



Shell. — Abundance of material for implements and ornaments of shell is found 

 on every side along the seacoast of the Peninsula, and it is probable that this mate- 

 rial, worked and un worked, was a staple export. We have found in the mounds 

 columellas of Fulgur and Faseiolaria detached from the whorls and probably ready 

 for shipment, like iron in the pig. that the population of northern districts might 

 more readily suit its taste in manufacture of beads and implements. 



Stone. — Lance heads, projectile points, scrapers, and larger leaf-shaped imple- 

 ments are almost invariably of Chert, or of kindred stone, jasper. Chalcedony, 

 Hornstone. or Chert-breccia, all probably from the limestone of the west coast, and 

 all doubtless domestic products. 



For the traps and claystones from which their a celts" were made the Florida 

 Indians had farther to seek, probably in the States of Georgia and North Carolina, 

 though one might expect that with them would come the grooved axe, a weapon 

 unknown to the shell heaps, the sand mounds and the surface. 



Mica and Quartz crystal are not found within the limits of the State, and 

 Catlinite, discovered by us in one mound, is unknown nearer than the Northwest. 



Precious Metals, — Gold and silver, shaped into aboriginal designs, have been 

 met with by us upon but three occasions — a disc of sheet gold, an oblong ornament 

 of the same material and a semilunar ornament of sheet silver. All these have 

 the beaded or punctate marginal decoration, so common a native form. 



A bar-like ornament of silver, probably of European pattern, is the only other 

 object of precious metal not distinctly showing White contact, met with by us in 

 Florida. 



All four of these objects have been figured in this Report. The first three were 

 found near the surface of the mound, unassociated with relics showing European 

 intercourse, but at no greater depth than such objects have been met with in the 

 same mounds. It is. however, only fair to say that products undoubtedly of 

 aboriginal art also have been discovered in all these mounds no farther below the 

 surface than were the gold and silver ornaments in question. 



The presence of precious metals in the Florida mounds has been previously 

 noted, and we are indebted to Andrew E. Douglass. Esq., 1 to George F. Kunz. Esq., 2 



1 A Gold Ornament from Florida, American Antiquarian, Jan. 1890. 



- Gold and Silver Ornaments from Mounds of Florida. American Antiquarian, Vol. IX, page 219. 



