i6o 



Hopewell Mound Group 





larger end is cut and ground. The design appears to have been carried 

 beyond this present end, and it may have been broken and ground 

 down by the aborigines. The opposite end shows fractures caused b}' 

 the altar fires. The design does not appear to have been carved further 

 on this end; but, as several pieces are missing, it 

 is impossible to tell this with certainty." 



With reference to Fig. 65, Willoughby states, 

 "The most interesting carving in antler is here 

 shown. This is probably intended to represent a 

 bird of the hawk family, judging by the notch in the 

 upper mandible. A conventionalized human face 

 is drawn on the head. This might be considered 

 merely the indication of a crest, but I do not think 

 that it was so intended. The terminations of the 

 wing covets are conventionalized, the carving is 

 hollow; and the perforation on the back, shown in 

 the drawing, communicates to this opening. This 

 specimen is finely finished, and doubtless had pearls 

 inlaid for eyes. A fragment of another very inter- 

 esting antler carving, shown in Fig. 61, represents 

 the head and shoulder of one wing of a raven. 

 Enough of the body of the bird remains to show the 

 hollow opening usually present in this style of work. 

 The perfect specimen represented the body and 

 head of this bird. A portion of the reverse side of 

 the head from that shown is missing. A pearl still 

 remains in the eye-cavity. It is probable that the 

 eyes of most of the carvings that have a hollow 

 eye-cavity were inserted or represented in the same 

 manner. Single fragments of several objects of the 

 same character were found, the rest being utterly 

 ruined by altar fires." Figs. 20 and 21 on p. 128 

 (the latter illustrating the separation of the design 

 into parts) show one of the most interesting 

 objects found. Willoughby observes in regard to it, "This is the most 

 remarkable incised carving recovered during the exploration and one 

 of the most interesting yet obtained from the mounds. The bone, 

 probably a portion of a human femur, has been artificially shaped and 

 polished, the upper end scalloped, and its natural cavity enlarged. 

 This specimen accompanied a skeleton in the great mound. The draw- 

 ing illustrates the back of the carving (Fig. 20). An analysis of the 



Fig. 59. 

 Carving In- 

 cised on Bone 

 from Mound 25. 



