456 CERTAIN RIVER MOUNDS- OF DUVAL COUNTY, FLORIDA. 



extending to the eastern margin, was a very irregular layer, at places five feet in 

 thickness, though this was exceptional. This layer, varying in shade from light 

 chocolate to brick red, was due to intentional admixture of the red oxide of iron 

 with the sand — a practice whose occurrence is frequently noted in our Report on the 

 mounds of the St. Johns. 



We append a description of a fairly representative section of the mound taken 

 at the junction of the eastern slope with the summit plateau, going clown : 



2 feet, 8 inches — Sand of brick red and of chocolate color. 

 11 feet, 8 inches — Irregular and local strata ; pocket of gray sand showing effects 



of fire, with much charcoal ; occasional pockets of shell ; 



pockets of yellow sand darkened by plentiful admixture of 



charcoal. 

 2 feet, 8 inches — To base. Pure yellow sand with occasional particles of charcoal. 



HUMAN REMAINS. 



In that portion of the mound beneath the plateau, interments were, as a rule, 

 in the last stage of decay, frequently marked by a few crumbling fragments, isolated 

 teeth, or even a line of small disintegrating particles of bone — hardly more than a 

 yellowish stain. It was, therefore, impossible to give the exact number of inter- 

 ments met with, or, in many cases, to determine the form of burial. At not less 

 than 150 points human remains were encountered, presenting both methods of 

 sepulture — the bunched variety and the burial in anatomicaL order. In most cases, 

 careful examination showed an unnatural juxtaposition indicating the interment of 

 the remains when denuded of flesh. 



With four exceptions, when the burials 

 were encountered at a depth of six feet, all 

 human remains lay within four feet of the 

 surface. 



In the western rjortion of the plateau, six 

 feet from the surface, virtually in contact, were 

 six crania associated with but one vertebra and 

 two clavicles. This burial, however, was entirely 

 exceptional. 



In the central portion of the summit plateau, 

 3.5 feet from the surface, was a quantity of small 

 fragments of human bones and of bones of lower 

 animals, charred and calcined. With them 

 were a number of human bones entirely unaf- 

 fected by fire. 

 Two pathological specimens and a number of platycnemic tibias were sent to 

 the United States Army Medical Museum at Washington. One of these tibiae had 



Fig. 4. — Sherd with stamped decoration 

 mouud. (Full size.) 



Shields 



