In the northeastern margin, 15 feet down, with fragmentary human remains 1 foot below, was a small undecorated bowl with a perforation in the base, made previous to baking. This was the only occurrence in the mound of ready-made mortuary ware. For the benefit of those not familiar with our previous Reports on the Florida mounds, we may say that it was the custom in that State, often to knock out the bottom, or to make a hole through the bottom, of earthenware vessels, previous to inhumation with the dead and that this custom is believed to have been practised with the idea that the mutilation “killed” the vessel, freeing its soul to accompany that of its owner into the next world. Apparently, however, it entered the minds of the more thrifty among the aborigines that vessels of value might serve a better purpose, and hence there arose a class of ceremonial ware, usually small in size, often of fantastic design and always of flimsy material, with bases perforated during the process of manufacture. This cheap ware was probably kept on hand and did duty for vessels more valuable and less readily spared.
One and one-half feet below the surface, about 4 feet in from the northwestern margin, was a small globular vessel of ordinary type, undecorated, intact as to the base, with perforations for suspension below the margin on either side. No human remains were found in the neighborhood.
About 5 feet in from the western margin, and 2 feet below the surface, with no human remains in proximity, were two undecorated bowls, each with a maximum diameter of about 6 inches. Both showed perforation of the base made after manufacture.
A globular vessel of somewhat over one quart capacity lay about 9 feet in from the northeastern margin and 1.5 feet below the surface. It was undecorated save for a raised band around the inverted rim. With it were the greater part of a small undecorated vessel of ordinary type and various artifacts. Human remains were in association. Within the vessel were two pebbles; fragments of marine univalves; decaying portions of mussel shells; a worked object of shell resembling an imperforate cylindrical bead; and a bit of coquina.
At a number of other points were vessels, some of about one gallon capacity, all undecorated and of most inferior ware. In nearly every case was perforation of the base made after the completion of the vessel. Nearly all were to a certain extent imperfect, some being crushed to numerous fragments.
STONE
Five hatchets of the usual type, some showing considerable breakage, came from various points in the mound, none deeper than three feet.
In sand dyed red with Hematite, near human remains, were several mussel shells; one small bit of sandstone; a pentangular slab of red sandstone with a maximum length of 7.5 inches, a maximum width of 7 inches, a thickness of 3 inches; a “celt” 8 inches in length.
Four arrowheads came from different depths. With one was a pebble hammer of quartz.
About 2.5 feet from the surface, together, were fragments of lower animal bones; pebbles; a bit of quartz; fragments of marine shell; and several bits of chert rudely worked to resemble the arrowhead but too imperfect to be of service for any but sepulchral purposes.