136 



Hopewell Mound Group 



and more slender. The material is probably cave gypsum. Fig. 31 

 shows a problematical form from Altar 2. It is 7.25 cm long and 4.5 

 cm wide, Math a perforation of 14 mm in diameter. Similar objects 

 occur in Kentucky and Tennessee, and are occasionally found in Ohio 

 and Indiana, but are usually from ancient village sites, not from mounds. 

 Fig. 32 represents a small bowl-like affair that can scarcely be classed 

 as a boat stone. It has been badly damaged by the heat of the altar 

 fire. Fig. 34 is the nearest approach to a bird 

 stone from the Hopewell group. It is 7 cm 

 across the base and 5.5 cm high. The material 

 is mottled granite. It has the protruding cars 

 characteristic of the short-winged bird stones 

 of northern Ohio, western New York, and 

 southwest Wisconsin. There are perforations 

 on either side of the base in the same position 

 as on ordinary bird stones. It may possibly 

 portray an owl. It is interesting to note that, 

 so far as I am aware, the plain bird or saddle 

 stone has not been found in the Ohio mounds. 

 Fig. 30 illustrates a highly polished, hollow 

 object of slate which was found in Altar 2. It 

 suggests a growing horn. It is clearly a 

 problematical form, and might be classed as a 

 boat stone but for the fact that the lower part 

 is almost pointed. A stone ornament shaped 

 like a bear's tooth (Cat. No. 56551) is shown 

 in Fig. 35. 



If the builders of the Hopewell group made 

 use of ornamental problematical forms in shell, 

 slate, and other materials, it is to be supposed 

 that they would have placed them with 

 burials or in altars. C. B. Moore has found 

 them with burials in Kentucky, and Mills 

 discovered them at the Tremper mound, which is of Hopewell culture. 

 It is curious therefore that they should not have occurred at Hopewell, 

 where the culture seems to have reached its highest artistic develop- 

 ment. It is not advisable to enter here into a lengthy discussion of 

 this problem, but the subject seems to be of considerable importance, 

 as the problematical forms apparently represent a special development 

 of art in stone. 



Fig. 36 shows a curious effigy, probably of serpentine. It has been 



Fig. 29. 



Hematite Plummet 



from Altar 2. 



