1892.] Shell Heaps of Florida. 913 
action of the flames. In addition to this, but less evenly dis- 
tributed throughout the shell heaps, were fragments of pottery 
and implements of bone, stone and shell. 
To Prof. Wyman then belongs the credit of the demonstra- 
tion beyond question of human agency in the origin of the 
fresh-water’ shell heaps of the St. John’s. 
The territory on the River covered by the writer, beginning 
near Whetstone Point, nine miles north of Palatka, and end- 
ing at Turtle Mound? four miles north of Lake Washington, 
is about 300 miles in extent, by water. (Note A). So devious 
is the river above Lake Harney that no map attempts to out- 
line its twists and looped-shaped bends, and only estimates as 
to distance can be made. South of Lake Harney the solid 
land virtually ceases, and the river from a few feet in breadth 
at times broadens into great lagoons, or never-ending marsh. 
At every point where a landing can be effected in high water, 
or where the palmetto can be seen, is a shell deposit made of 
the debris of the meals of the aborigines. It is with these 
swamp shell heaps that these papers will have principally to 
do, since they are of greater interest, not alone through absence 
of all exploration hitherto, but also because théir contracted 
space more richly rewards investigation. 
_ The shell heaps of the St. John’s are refuse heaps simply, 
and in them refuse alone can be expected under ordinary 
circumstances ; but as articles of value sometimes find their 
way into ash heaps and dumping places at the present day, 
so, at times, do weapons and implements, unbroken and in 
good condition, come to light in the shell heaps. These heaps 
frequently attain enormous size. Bluffton, the property of Mr. 
William E. Bird, has thirty acres* in shell, and in one part 
1It will be remembered that large deposits of marine shells, principally of the 
oyster, exist at Mayport, near the raouth of the St. John’s. These shell deposits will 
not be discussed in these papers, and all allusions to shell heaps will have reference 
to fresh-water shell heaps alone. 
?Another mound of this name is situated near New Smyrna on the east coast. 
’Mr. Chas. H. Curtis, Superintendent of the Bluffton grove, informed the writer 
that of the fenced portion of the property (forty-five acres) two-thirds consist of shell 
deposit. The writer, after a careful examination, considers the shell deposit some- 
what more. 
