TWO SAND MOUNDS ON MURPHY ISLAND, FLORIDA. 515 



KEMARKS. 



The contents of the northernmost mound on Murphy Island are of consider- 

 ably above the average interest. The numerous fragments of fossil bone are new 

 to us, while the collections of pebble hammers, chips of stone, and the like, buried 

 together, have not been met with before above Jacksonville, though in low mounds 

 between that point and the sea, they are common enough. The period when the 

 mound was built depends upon the nature of the small piece of iron discovered at 

 the base, and of this we have already spoken. 



Southernmost Mound, Murphy Island. 



About two hundred yards in a southerly direction from the mound we have 

 just described is another in full view of the river, did not a thick growth of sour 

 orange trees intervene. The height of the mound is 10 feet ; its diameter of base, 

 70 feet. A number of large forest trees grew upon it. Irregular ridges, evidently 

 artificial, not directly connected with the mound, ran in an easterly direction 

 from it. 



Owing to the presence of many orange trees around a portion of the margin, 

 the entire mound was not demolished. 



A trench 103 feet wide at the beginning, including the south, southeast and 

 southwest parts of the circumference, was carried in until over one-half the mound 

 had been removed. 



The mound proved structurally of great interest. From the start, with its 

 base at about the level of the surrounding territory, was a black layer of midden 

 refuse surmounted by a stratum of sand artificially colored by the use of the 

 red oxide of iron, sometimes pink, and again a bright cherry. Above this was 

 mottled sand containing various local streaks and layers. As the work progressed 

 a second layer of midden refuse was observed. 



At the center of the mound, the strata, though somewhat irregular in thick- 

 ness, were about as follows : 



Superficial 4 feet. — Mottled sand, pink, white, and gray at places. 

 1.5 feet. — Black loam, solidly packed, containing midden refuse, sherds, bones of 

 lower animals, charcoal, and very occasional shells. 



6 inches. — Cherry colored sand with pockets, extending into the layer beloAv. 

 2 feet 10 inches. — Mottled sand. 



1.5 feet. — Black loam — miclden refuse. 



7 inches. — Sand brownish in color, resembling a stain. 



Beneath this was pure white sand showing occasional signs of mottling and 

 containing scattered particles of charcoal and at least one worked fragment of 

 chert. There was no definite base line, and how much of this white sand may 

 have been filled into a previous excavation there was no method to determine. 



