CERTAIN SAND MOUNDS OF THE OCKLAWAHA RIVER, FLORIDA. 519 



size, insignificant if compared with the great shell deposits of the St. Johns, testify 

 to a scanty population. 



From the mouth to the end of navigation the territory bordering the Ockla- 

 waha was found to contain no mound over eight feet in height 1 and very few 

 approaching even that altitude. It has been, therefore, in the power of the igno- 

 rant treasure seeker, or of the " relic hunter," even with his limited time and means, 

 seriously to impair the archaeological value of many of these mounds by the removal 

 of central portions — an impossibility in the case of the greater earthworks of the 

 St. Johns. 



As the reader will see, the mounds of the river proper were virtually barren, 

 while no rich harvest was yielded by those of the " lake " country beyond. 



This investigation was conducted with steam motive power and an abundant 

 force of men during portions of January and March and all of February, 1895. 



• We append a list of mounds investigated on the Ocklawaha River, to be 

 followed by a detailed account of those offering any interest either structurally or 

 as to human remains or relics of aboriginal art. 



Ditch Creek (2). Near Umatilla. 



Indian Bluff. Near Fort Mason. 



Palmetto Landing (7). Lake Griffin (3). 



Delk's Landing. Lake Eustis. 



Silver Springs. Near Tavares. 



Electra Landing. Barclay's. 



Lake Weir Landing. Near Yallaha. 



Moss Bluff (3). Richmond Mound. 



Stark's Landing (2). Near Helena. 



Hopson Mound. Okahumpka. 

 Near Higley. 



Mounds near Ditch Creek, Putnam County. 



Ditch Creek enters the Ocklawaha from the left, going down, about eighteen 

 miles by water from the river's mouth. About one mile up the creek is a landing, 

 and from this landing, about four hundred yards W. N. W., was a mound 1.5 feet 

 in height and 45 feet in diameter of base. It had apparently lost somewhat in 

 height by the trampling of cattle. 



It was totally demolished. 



It consisted of gray, loamy sand with the usual admixture of charcoal. At 

 one point were two bits of human femur ; at another, charred fragments of human 

 bones. Numerous chips, flakes, and two cores of chert were found and one bit of 

 plain undecorated earthenware. 



1 The mounds of Lake Harris, though not properly belonging to the Ocklawaha River, are 

 included in this paper. The territory bordering this lake had one mound of an altitude greater than 

 the limit given above. 



65 JOURN. A. N. S. PHILA.. VOL. X. 



