1895.] Archeology and Ethnology. 395 
probably the work of human hands, was scooped in the upper part of 
this layer to a depth of 3 or 4 feet, and completely filled with ashes, 
containing thousands of bits of pottery. One of the sloping approaches 
of the shaft was cut through this deposit, exposing a section about 10 
or 12 feet long (north and south) by 4 or 5 feet wide, where it abutted 
on the main excavation. On the east side, 20 or 30 feet from the 
northern end, was another rounded hollow in the loam, 10 or 15 feet 
wide, where it was cut across, and 5 or 6 feet deep in the middle. This 
was filled with sand, mixed with black vegetable mold. At the north 
side of this, and extending into the adjacent part of the loam, were 
other bits of pottery, less numerous than in the ash bed, but in larger 
pieces. Here were found our largest specimens of earthenware. 
Ten or twelve feet southwest of this last spot, and inside the rectangle 
of the shaft, was a live-oak stump, over 2 feet in diameter, and 3 or 4 
feet high, with its roots still fast in the upper part of the loam on the 
east side, but tilted over to the west, as if it had been on a caving bank. 
The upper part of this was broken off as if by a tornado. The wood 
was still sound, and so tough as to necessitate the use of dynamite for 
its removal. It was considerably stained, as if by the infiltration of . 
iron. 
‘In the corner was what looked like a gully, 6 or 7 feet deep, hol- 
lowed in the loam, and filled with a mixture of ashes, sand and vege- 
table mould, with a few pieces of earthenware. Through this a pretty 
bold stream of water entered the excavation. All these inequalities in 
the loam were covered and approximately leveled by the yellow clay. 
All of the larger pieces of pottery, and most of the smaller bits, were 
entirely destitute of ornamentation. Some of the lesser pieces, how- 
ever, are marked with patterns of various kinds. Some show lines, 
generally oblique, apparently drawn with a pointed stick; others 
dots, looking as if they might have been made with a bit of cane. But 
some appear to have been stamped. 
Our largest specimen represents rather Jess than half the cireumfer- 
ence (at top) of a jar about 9 inches in diameter, and over a foot deep 
—the bottom entirely gone. It seems to have been somewhat narrowed | 
below. This was broken into eight pieces in extricating it from the 
mud. Many of the other fragments indicate still larger vessels. They 
are all very thin and exceedingly fragile. 
Before my arrival the workmen found two or three whole jars, which, 
however, were immediately smashed, probably from the idea that they 
contained treasure. Superintendent McCalla, however, rescued a large 
piece of one of them, which he presented to us. It is about half of the 
