486 CERTAIN RIVER MOUNDS OF DUVAL COUNTY, FLORIDA. 



20 feet, Before this copper could be removed a section of the mound fell from 

 above burying the objects beneath tons of sand and breaking them, to a certain 

 extent, as we learned hours later when they were recovered. It was apparent at 

 the same time, however, by the carbonated edges of certain fractures that the 

 ornaments had undergone some breakage previous to the caving of the sand. 



The larger ornament consists of a shield, or escutcheon, shaped concavo-con- 

 vex sheet of copper, with a maximum length of 2.6 inches and a maximum width 

 of 2.2 inches. This shield has repousse decoration, probably intended to represent 

 the human face, the raised portion of the decoration being on the concave side 

 of the shield. Near the margin, about .7 of one inch from the upper edge, is a small 

 perforation on either side as shown in Fig. 39. From the convex side of the shield, 

 where the design is depressed, the remaining portion of a band of copper, 

 about' 1.3 inches broad, projects (see section, Fig. 40). It is slightly bent, 



but has the appearance of having at one 

 time been at right angles to the shield and 

 having been bent by weight of sand. Near the 

 shield lay a band of copper, 3.5 inches in 

 length, and of the same breadth as the portion 

 fastened to the shield. The ragged edge at 

 either end, however, is carbonated, showing an 

 early fracture. One portion of this band, which 



Fig. 39. — Ornament of sheet copper. Grant 

 mound. (Full size.) 



Fig. 40. — Transverse section of same. (Full size.) 



is heavily carbonated, being cleared by acid, shows a straight line of rivets, 

 running transversely, where it had probably been joined to the tongue projecting 

 from the shield. 



The shield-like portion of the second ornament is somewhat smaller, having a 

 maximum length of 2.3 inches, and a maximum width of 1.9 inches. It is thinner 

 than the larger shield, from which it differs in that it has repousse decoration on 

 the convex side alone, the concave side being undecorated and the excised portion 

 from the upper part in the concave side does not end squarely, but has its base 

 in the form of an upright wedge. Vegetable fabric, not shown in the cut (Fig. 41), 

 adheres to the convex side which shows considerably less convexity than the larger 

 shield. From the convex side, as in the case of the other specimen, a band of sheet 

 copper, irregularly bent over, probably by weight of sand, projects as represented 

 in section (Fig. 42a). Near the shield lay a band of copper about 2.5 inches in 



