With another superficial burial, lying near the lower jaw, was a somewhat similar ornament of brass (Fig. [5]).
Ornaments of this type are not uncommon in Florida, though we have met with none on the St. Johns.[6]
Loose in the sand throughout the mound were a few bits of ornamented earthenware; one Fulgur carica, much worn at the beak, but without the usual perforation; and one large marine shell (Fasciolaria). A considerable number of these shells, all more or less broken as to the body whorl, lay near previous excavations.
Five feet from the surface were the remains of an undecorated bowl of considerable size, which had been interred whole or nearly so. No human remains were found in the neighborhood of this bowl, and it lay at a much greater depth than any other discovered by us. It had probably been lost or broken during the construction of the mound.
From the eastern slope, with human remains, were taken two imperforate drinking cups of shell, one within the other; another alone; and two beads of silver seemingly of European workmanship.
As no burials or indications of interment (and discoloration of sand usually shows where bones have been) were met with in the Gleason mound at a depth of over 2 feet, we are of opinion that later Indians utilized for burial a pre-existing mound.
Mounds near Mouth of Banana River, Brevard County
On the property of Mr. John Aspinwall, of New York, about one-half mile south of the Gleason mound, 50 yards apart approximately, were two mounds in thick “scrub.”
The smaller mound, about 4 feet in height, was dug through as to the central portion, yielding a number of superficial burials of the bunched variety. With some of these were small bits of coquina and of shell.
The larger mound, about 7 feet in height, yielded nothing to an investigation conducted through the central portion.