CUAPTER XIV. 



ORNAMENTS OF STONE, BONE, ETC. 



A LARGE proportion of the articles found in the mounds may be classed as orna- 

 ments. It is not undertaken to say, however, tliat all which follow under this head 

 were really designed as such. The purposes of the remains of the mounds gene- 

 rally are so apparent, that little doubt can exist as to the place which they should 

 occupy in the simple classification here attempted ; but there are a few to which 

 it is extremely difficult to assign a position. For all essential purposes, approxi- 

 mate conclusions are sufliciently exact ; and although a good deal of ingenuity 

 and much space might be expended in speculations upon the probable purposes of 

 relics of doubtful use, it is not likely that the final result would be of much impor- 

 tance in its bearings upon archaeological science. 



Beads. — The number of beads found in the mounds is truly surprising. They 

 may be counted in some instances by hundreds and thousands, — each one the 

 product of no inconsiderable amount of labor, unless our estimate of the means 

 and facilities at the command of the makers is greatly underrated. The character 

 of some of these beads, made of shell and enveloped in metal, has already been 

 noticed. Others are composed of shell, worked into every variety of shape, round, 

 oblong, and flattened ; others still of animal bones and tusks, and many of pearls 

 and small marine shells, — as the marginella, natica, oliva, etc. The perforated 

 teeth of the wild cat, wolf, and shark, as well as the claws of animals and sections 

 of the small bones of birds, were also used in the manner of beads, either for pur- 

 poses of distinction and decoration, or as amulets. In all these we observe 

 remarkable coincidences with the decorations of the existing tribes of Indians, 

 who are extravagant in their use of beads and pendants.* 



The beads found with the skeletons, so far as observation has extended, are 

 composed of shell or tusks of animals, — those of shell greatly predominating. Tiic 

 surfaces of some of these are much discolored and corroded ; many, however, 



* Clavigero saj-s of tlic ancient Mexicans: " It would be difficult to find a nation which accompanied 

 so much simplicity of dress with so much variety and luxury in other ornaments of their persons. Besides 

 feathers and jewels, with which they adorned their clothes, they wore car-rings, pendants at the upper lip, 

 and many likewise at their noses, necklaces, bracelets for the hands and arras, and also certain rings like 

 collars around their legs. The ear-rings and pendants of the poor were shells, pieces of crystal, amber, 

 or some otiier sliining little stones ; but the rich won; pearls, emeralds, amethysts, or other gems, set in 

 crokl." 



