454 CERTAIN RIVER MOUNDS OF DUVAL COUNTY, FLORIDA. 



as a mound near Mill Cove. As all our readers may not have access to the work 

 in question, at the risk of repetition, we give certain details as to size and shape of 

 the mound. 



About 150 yards from the river's bank, which at this point forms a bluff com- 

 manding the stream for miles, is a great platform mound entirely unlike in form 

 any aboriginal earthwork on the river. Its shape is not circular, as we have 

 stated in our Report, but slightly oblong with rounded corners ; its base diameter, 

 about 214 feet; the diameter of its summit plateau, 115 feet by 133 feet. Situate 

 upon rolling ground, its height depends upon the point from which the measure- 

 ment is taken, a fair average being 18 feet. A graded way leads up to the summit 

 plateau on the side toward the river, while certain curious ridges, one running 

 directly from the mound, extend in a southerly direction for a considerable distance 

 in the rear until lost in the surrounding level. Investigation indicated these ridges 

 to have been made for some purpose other than sepulture. We are largely 

 indebted to F. W. Bruce, Esq., engineer in the employ of the United States Govern- 

 ment at the jetty at the mouth of the St. Johns, for the accompanying plan and 

 elevation of the Shields mound and its adjuncts (Fig. 2). We have requested Dr. 

 M. G. Miller, who assisted at the survey, to notice these curious ridges in detail. 



" From the southern margin of the mound B a long ridge (see plan) runs in a 

 southerly direction for a distance of about 500 feet. With a height of about one 

 foot where it joins the mound, the ridge gradually rises until at C it attains an 

 altitude of 8 feet 10 inches above the level to the east. Beyond C is a marked 

 depression from which the ridge again rises, reaching its greatest altitude, 13 feet 

 8 inches, at D, from which, making an abrupt turn northward, it descends gradually 

 to the point E. The southern slope at D is so abrupt as to be difficult of ascent, 



" From C a narrow terrace leads down the eastern side of the main ridge and 

 continues, with gradually decreasing altitude to F from where a low ridge, varying 

 in height from ten inches to six inches, extends a distance of about 350 feet, to be 

 lost in the surrounding territory. 



"About .eighty-five feet to the west of this is a similar low ridge, G, leading 

 northward along the margin of a well-marked terrace, H. 



" Limited by this terrace and the main ridge is a basin, I, which has two 

 outlets, one at E leading to the space between the two low ridges, and the other at 

 J, between the mound and the terrace H as it turns to the west. 



" About 600 yards southwest of the mound lies a small lake, to which the 

 space between the low ridges F and G may have served as a covered way. 

 Unfortunately, the territory in which these ridges lie has been under cultivation 

 and it is impossible to decide as to their original extent and character. 



"At ab, cd, ef, gh, ij, are given the contours between corresponding points on 

 the plan, while at XY is given the sectional elevation of the mound and main 

 ridge." 



