Page:The American Indian.djvu/305

Rh levels contained no pottery. This conclusion is, however, far from final. Lastly, mention should be made of certain evidences of an earlier culture in New Jersey. Yet, it must be admitted that these are little more than hints of possible sequence of cultures and that, on the whole, the archæological artifacts so far brought to light stand as the exponents of one culture, though spanning a considerable time interval.

2. South Atlantic Area. As indicated on the map, this area includes the South Atlantic coast plane and a part of Florida. Shell-heaps are even more abundant than in the North Atlantic area and in Florida attain astonishing proportions. Large domiciliary mounds and low burial mounds are also numerous along the coast and rivers, particularly the St. Johns in Florida. The area, as a whole, may be divided into three districts: Georgia and northward, west Florida on the mainland, and peninsular Florida; yet, the culture center seems to be in coastal and central Georgia. Several distinct forms of burial have been noted: extended (the body at full length, as is our custom), flexed (legs drawn up against the body), bone burial (body exposed until flesh decays, when bones are interred), and cremation. Urn burial is also frequent here, a trait widely distributed in South America. Again, whereas in the North Atlantic area objects of any kind are seldom found in graves, they are here numerous, particularly small pottery figures. Some attempts to work gold and copper were made. In contrast to the preceding area, very few grooved axes occur, as is the case in the Antilles to the south, and the celt forms of the area are also said to suggest those of these islands. Occasionally, a kind of perforated ax is found somewhat similar to those of South America. Stone-tempered pottery is abundant, but limited in type, and though without color decoration is ornately treated with stamped and incised designs. Clay pipes are of angular trumpet shapes with bowls expanded into human or animal heads. In contrast to the North Atlantic area we find many objects made of shell, in particular a trimmed and perforated conch suggesting its use as a hoe. Among other features are finely carved stone bowls and curious stone plates, or disks.