Pre-Colombian Jamaica: Caribbean Archeology and Ethnohistory

228 / Appendix D.
mounds, the superficial soil in which the remains are embedded is rich, and
very dark in colour, contrasting strongly with the yellowish marl below and the
lighter coloured earth near by where no shells are met with. The occurrence of
an iron nail, met with in digging, must be regarded as merely accidental.
Spotty Hill. On Spotty Hill, which is about a mile from the sea, the deposits
are much disturbed and scattered, as a result of the ground being planted with
canes, coconut palms, and guinea- grass; and also by the great wash which occurs
during the heavy rains. The shells and pottery are found to a depth of two
or three inches below the surface, and extend over an area of an acre or two.
One of the best spots occurred at the dividing line between the piece in commons
and the cane- piece. Here remains were obtained to a depth of over twelve
inches. A portion of an aboriginal stone implement, formed of polished greenstone,
was found amongst the objects. With this exception the relics are the
same in character as in the mounds previously described.
California.
Enquiry of various labourers elicited the fact that, in digging, marine shells
were to be met with at Sheep Pen Pasture on the California Estate, adjoining
Tryall, Running Gut, and Rose Hall estates. In company with the proprietor,
Mr. Frank Robertson, and the Attorney, Mr. J. Shore, excavations were conducted
there. Over an extent of three or four acres small fragments of land and
marine shells could be seen at the surface, and digging at any spot revealed more
perfect ones, associated with pieces of pottery, bones, and spines of fish, to a
depth of from two to three feet.
The three localities, Mammee Hill, Spotty Hill, and Sheep Pen Pasture, are
all in sight of one another, and within a radius of a mile or two. The character
of the accumulations in all the mounds is exactly the same, their extent demonstrating
that the district must have been a populous one in the days of the
Indians.
“Thunderbolts” are plentiful today in the possession of the workers on the
estates around.
Wales.
These accumulations are situated behind the residence on the property of
Mr. J. H. Clerk, at Wales, Trelawny, occurring on one of a series of hills surrounding
a rich and fertile plain. The hill inclines steeply to the south and east,
most gradually to the north and west. The presence of these circles of hills, enclosing
plains of greater or less extent, is one of the features of the parish of Trelawny,
where it surrounds the Cockpit Country. At present part of the ground
where the remains are found is planted with coconut palms.
The investigations were instituted as a result of Mr. A. Townend’s attention