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The mounds described in this paper, two in number, are situated on a dry sandy level of pine and oak land near the edge of a hummock which skirts the creek in the ninth district of Berrien County, Georgia. They are about 300 yards from the creek and 100 yards from a branch emptying into the creek. This site is on lot numbered 275, and 6 miles southwest from the town of Nashville.

The mounds had been partially explored previously to our examination, but the following is an account of our results:

Mound No. 1 was 30 feet wide and 4 feet high, and perfectly circular at the base. The earth composing it was obtained from a saucer-shaped excavation, now 8 feet across and 1 foot deep. At the bottom of this depression were found charred wood, ashes, and pieces of burnt pine wood, which appeared to have been placed there when the interment was made.

Mound No. 2 resembled No. 1 in every respect. The growth on both mounds were wire-grass, sedge, bushes of the red oak and post oak. The early settlers and the Indians whom they encountered were alike ignorant of the origin of these relics of the past.

 

In November and December, 1877, I indulged in a sail-boat cruise from Key West to Cedar Keys, and en route found and superficially examined an ancient canal in township 50 south, range 25 east. The accompanying drawing gives a sketch of the locality.

The canal is at present 12 feet wide at the bottom, and about 40 at the top. The embankment on each side is about 4 feet higher than the original surface. Engineering skill was manifested in laying out the canal, for its first 600 feet are at right angles with the coast line, after which it trends to the eastward. Those canals were not erected by our indolent Indians, and in my opinion they were made by another race. Three years ago I made a boat trip from Cedar Keys to Charlotte Harbor, on Lake Okeechobee. On my return I superficially examined a canal at Pine Island, Charlotte Harbor.

Some of the largest mounds in the State have been constructed near the southwest end of the canal. In my opinion the mounds have been made since the canal was excavated. I was anxious to make an examination to determine the date of the mound-building as regards the canal,