S C U L P T U RES. 



249 



have been termed, found, ior tlie misl p.irt, in ths States of Tennessee and 

 Mississippi. One of these " idols" was discovered some years since, in plougliing 

 upon the Grave creek Flats in Virginia.* It represents a huuian figure in a 

 squatting attitude, with its elbows drawn back and its hands resting upon its knees. 

 It is thirteen inches high by six inches and a half broad. In material and work- 

 manship it is identical with the articles last described, and, like Fig. 148, is 

 distinguished by a crown-tuft or '• scalp-lock." There are two orifices com- 

 municating with each other in its back. It was probably designed to serve as 

 a pipe. A stone " idol," destitute however of orifices, was found not long since 

 near the mouth of the Scioto river. It represents a human figure in a squatting 

 attitude, the arms clasped around the knees, upon which tlie chin is resting. 

 This is the common position of the North American Indians, when seated 

 around the fires in their wigwams. It seems most likely tiiat tliese rough sculptures 

 have a comparatively recent date, and are the remains of th(> tribes found in 

 possession of the country by the whites. As works of art they are immeasurably 

 inferior to the relics from the mounds. 



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Fig. 149. This singular specimen of sculpture bears a close resemblance to 

 those above described, but is of much superior workmanship. The features and 

 style of ornament are peculiar. The material is a gray sandstone. It is now 

 deposited in the museum of the Historical Society of New York ; i)ut its history is 

 unknown. It is clearly the original from which th<> drawing published by Baron 



* See memoir on the Grave creek mound by H. R. SciiooLCUAKr, Esq., Transactions of American 

 lilhnnl.xfical Sorifti/, vol. i. p. 408. Tlie original is regarded bj- that gentleman as furni.shin<>- tanu-ible 

 evidence of the existence of idol worship among the North American trihes. Its purposes, whatever thev 

 were, seem to dilfer but slightly from those to which tlie ruder articles noticed in the text were applied. 

 The orifices in the back are siipposed by Mr. Schoolcraft to be designed for the insertion of the thumb 

 and linger in lifting thi' o'lji'ct. oi- for ihe inlrodwction of a timng or cord in transporting or suspendin<'' it. 



