CERTAIN RIVER MOUNDS OF DUVAL COUNTY. FLORIDA. 4-57 



an index of fifty ; that is to say, its lateral diameter was but one-half of the 

 diameter taken antero-posteriorly at the point of entrance of the nutrient artery. 

 This is the lowest index ever met with by us in Florida or recorded by anyone as 

 from that State. Most of our readers will recall, however, platycnemia is no longer 

 regarded as a racial characteristic. 



No crania were recovered save in fragments. 



EARTHEXWARE. . 



Occasional sherds were met with in all parts of the mound, especially with the 

 midden refuse. In the material beneath the summit plateau, so far as explored 

 by us, they were, however, infrequently encountered, though at times oblong pieces 

 and triangular bits doubtless intentionally given the outline of the arrow point, 

 were encountered in close association with human remains. Undecorated earthen- 

 ware predominated. The square and the diamond-shaped stamps were represented 



Fig. 5. — Toy vessel of earthenware. 

 Shields mound. (Full size.) 



Fig. 6. — Bird-shaped vessel of earthenware. Shields Mound. 

 (Full size.) 



with the occasional occurrence of the complicated stamped decoration, though not 

 of the patterns found so abundantly in several neighboring low mounds, but want- 

 ing in the great Grant mound less than one mile distant. Fig. 4 shows a compli- 

 cated stamped decoration from the Shields mound. 



Portions of two vessels in fragments, with cord-marked decoration, were 

 colored inside and out with crimson pigment. Margins corresponding to missing 

 parts gave evidence of ancient fracture, and it was clear that here, as in many 

 other mounds demolished by us, broken, and consequently otherwise useless, vessels 

 had been utilized for mortuary purposes. 



During the investigation, nine entire vessels, none of so much as one quart 

 capacity, were met with, including three unfortunately badly broken at the time of 

 discovery. None were of special interest as to shape or decoration, and all were 

 imperforate as to the base, if we except a toy vessel shown in Fig. -3. 



