Pre-Colombian Jamaica: Caribbean Archeology and Ethnohistory

230 / Appendix D.
with a rich soil supporting guinea- grass, have evidently never been more than
superficially disturbed since their formation. Even from some distance the peculiar
mound character of the spot is obvious, quite distinguishing it from the
surrounding country. The shells in each heap commence near the surface, mingling
with the soil around the roots of the grass. Excavations were conducted
at all the elevations, and yielded much the same results, except that the objects
were found to extend to variable depths. One mound is more central, larger,
and slightly higher than the rest, which vary in size and are arranged somewhat
in the form of an incomplete circle (Fig. VI.). In the principal mound digging
was continued to a depth of six feet; remains being met with for five feet. In
others they extended to a depth of four feet, or for only two or three feet. The
objects were scattered somewhat uniformly throughout the earth, along with
many loose limestone blocks.
Evidences of arrangement in layers were not wanting, especially in the largest
mound. The upper soil everywhere is dark, but passes into a lower, light coloured,
marly layer. In no case was the solid rock reached, though in an adjoining
higher pasture this was quite superficial. Dr. Dewar was led to suggest that
the place ought to be investigated from the fact that the ground here is much
looser than elsewhere, often causing his horse to stumble when riding over it.
The deposits, with the elevation upon which they are situated, occupy an area
of three or four acres. Excavations were also carried out in the depressions between
the mounds, but only stray shells were to be found.
In section the principal mound exhibits different layers of material,
demonstrating the manner in which it has been built up. At a depth of two
and a half feet in one particular spot, four distinct strata of fine, greyish- blue
ashes, with alternating layers of burnt earth and soil, were to be seen. The layers
of ash, each about three inches in thickness, are now partially consolidated, but
become more so on exposure, and mingled with the ash are small fragments of
unburnt carbon. The layers indicate that the wood fires of the aborigines must
have burnt for a considerable length of time on the same spot; then, for a period,
the place became covered with earth; other fires were made on the top of
this, and so on for the several successions indicated. Few shells were found in
the intermediate strata of burnt earth and soil.
The extent of the area covered, and the thickness and quantity of the various
deposits prove that the locality must have been frequented for long and various
periods by numbers of the aboriginal Indians. The [19] objects detailed below,
show the kinds of food (so far as concerns those which possess parts capable of
preservation) they fed upon; while the ashes and blackened pottery prove that
they were accustomed to prepare their food by cooking.
Bones. The majority of bones are those of various species of fish. Numerous
spines, including one of the body spines of the sour- sop fish, vertebrae, and fa-