Mound at Peoria, Clay County
Doctor’s Lake has its union with the St. Johns at Orange Park about sixteen miles south of Jacksonville, on the west side of the river. About six miles in from the mouth of the lake, almost at its extremity, is the settlement of Peoria. In the outskirts of Peoria, on the property of Mr. J. A. Silcox, was a mound 4 feet 2 inches high, and 75 feet across the base. It had sustained very little previous examination, but its height had been greatly diminished by washing down of sand and trampling of cattle, which, at the same time, had increased its diameter.
At the time of our previous mound work on the St. Johns we were unable to come to terms with the owner of this mound, the location of which, however, is noticed in our Report.
The mound was totally demolished. It was composed of brownish sand, with the usual intermingling of charcoal.
About 5 feet down from the level of the summit a thin, irregular layer of dark sand and charcoal ran through the mound.
Less than one dozen interments were encountered, and these were represented by mouldering fragments.
Sherds were very infrequent, all coming under our notice being undecorated save one having the ordinary square stamp.
Throughout the mound were several whole and fragmentary arrow points, three pebbles, a bit of chert and a piece of mica.
Four and one-half feet from the surface, with very fragmentary human remains, lay fourteen arrow points.
Almost in the immediate center of the mound, 2.5 feet from the surface, was a concavo-convex ornament of sheet copper, 1.4 inches by 1.2 inches, having a narrow margin beaded in the fashion so common in the mound ornaments of copper.
Nothing further of interest was encountered.