NO. 2280. A PIT HOUf^E VILLAGE IN NEW MEXICO-HOUGH. 



423 



man, the drawing occupying an area in the hollow of a bowl deco- 

 rated around the border with bands curved with diagonal zigzag 

 lines, probably snakes. Another shows the body of a deer, another 

 mountain sheep, and still another numerous stars represented by 

 crosses. (PI. 36.) The style of work resembles that of a bowl found 

 at Linden, Arizona, in the White Mountains.^ 



Figurines. — Burnt-clay figurines of animals are quite characteristic 

 of the ruins in this particular region. They are found scattered 

 through the village debris, and they have not been discovered in a 

 definite plan of deposit, so that their meaning or use could be deter- 

 mined.^ The pit village site yielded one of these objects found on 

 the surface, where it may have been derived from some other ruin. 

 An animal figurine carved from white limestone was also found on 

 the site and appears to be a relic of the pit-dweller people. It is a 

 realistic carving representing a bear remarkably well executed. A 



Fig. 30.— Large brown water vase. 



Fig. 31.— Vase with coiled neck. 



bole is drilled through the figurine for the passage of a cord and 

 the object is a fetish. It may be regarded as the highest example of 

 pit-dweller art, if in reality it belongs to this group. (See fig. 29.) 



Pottery polishing stones. — Three pottery polishing stones were 

 found on the site. One is black (a very hard stone taking a high 

 polish) and one a quartz pebble with mirror polish on one face. 

 Evidence from the pottery shows that the surface finish was not care- 

 fully executed. (292095, U.S.N.M.) 



Fragment of large water vase. — Light-brown ware, irregular sur- 

 face, not smoothed carefully, and showing no polish. The paste is 

 characteristic of the local clay. The form of the vessel is rude and 

 is reminiscent of a potter not an adept, resembling the sporadic 

 Apache or Navaho clay vessels. Restored from fragments found 



1 First Museum — Gates Expedition. Ann. Rep. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1901, pi. 19. 

 •Hough, Bulletin 87, United States National Musuem, p. 116. 



