TWO SAND MOUNDS ON MURPHY ISLAND, FLORIDA. 505 



we are informed that the clay pots found in Ontario are round bottomed and 

 without supports. 1 



It has been suggested that feet on aboriginal vessels of earthenware might 

 possibly be attributed to an imitation of metallic forms obtained from the Whites. 

 So far as our experience goes we are strongly inclined to doubt this, since we have 

 always obtained earthenware with basal supports from depths to guarantee original 

 deposits in mounds where evidence of European influence, if present at all, was 

 superficial. Moreover, the European kettle with feet, if we mistake not, had three 

 supports, while the pottery of the Florida mounds, when supplied with feet, 

 has four. 



While the bases of a majority of the vessels of the mound showed perforation 

 after manufacture, some were entire, and a few samples of the " freak " variety 

 of ready made mortuary pottery, with perforation of base previous to baking, also 

 were present. This perforation of the base of earthenware by the aborigines of 

 the Peninsula was done, it is believed, to free the soul of the vessel to accompany 

 the spirit of the dead to the land beyond. 



As a rule, though with occasional exceptions, vessels seemed to be unassociated 

 with human remains, though taking into consideration the advanced state of decay 

 of some of the bones, exact determination was impossible. It is not unlikely, 

 however, that most of the earthenware was put into the mound in a general way, 

 and not to accompany individual interments. 



In all, twenty-five vessels of earthenware were found in the Murphy Island 

 mound in a condition to justify removal. These, in common with vessels in frag- 

 ments and isolated sherds, were almost invariably at considerable depth — some 

 so low as 13 feet from the surface. None bore stamped, punctate, or incised super- 

 ficial ornamentation. One small vessel of the "freak" mortuary variety, 2.5 inches 

 in height with a diameter of 2.7 inches across its laterally extending rim, and 1.65 

 inches through the body, was covered with crimson pigment inside and out. The 

 base showed perforation prior to baking. 



One vessel, 4.4 inches in height with a diameter of 3.5 inches, had a rude 

 fluting around the body surmounted by the remains of an encircling projecting 

 band 1.5 inches below the aperture. The entire bottom had been knocked out. 

 This vessel lay 12 feet down with another broken vessel. 



About 7 feet down were three bowls, the largest with a diameter of 14 inches, 

 containing the other two, one within the other. Near by lay a fourth. These 

 vessels, incomplete at the discovery, later fell into pieces, rendering restoration 

 impossible — no great loss, so poor was their quality and so ordinary their type. 

 We have already made reference to them. 



Ten feet from the surface was an imperforate pot resembling a crucible in 

 shape. Height, 3 inches ; diameter at mouth, 2.2 inches ; diameter at base, 1 inch. 



1 " Notes on Primitive Man in Ontario," by David Boyle, Toronto, 1895, page 31. 



