ANCIENT PUEBLOS OF UPPER GILA REGION. 47 



although sometimes a running design or a design in sections is ap- 

 plied. The edge of both bowls and vases is frequently decorated 

 with spots or hyphenlike figures. The handles of vases, if plain, 

 have geometrical figures; if animal, are decorated accordingly. 

 Occasionally the decoration on a plain handle indicates that a de- 

 graded animal form is present. Figures 81, 82, and 83 are of a re- 

 markable vessel, representing the great plumed serpent, wdiose my- 

 thology extends among so many different tribes. Great care has been 

 exerted in forming and decorating this vessel. The back of the ser- 

 pent bears designs which embrace lightning, snake, and feather sym- 

 l3ols, but the shoulder and tail patterns have an arrangement that is 

 strange and appear to convey a hidden meaning. The head bears 

 unique designs, of which the plume passing between the low horn* 

 is recognizable. The neck has a fret made up of lightning-snake and 

 snake motives and the handle 

 bears cloud symbols. Fragments 

 of a similar effigy vessel have been 

 found in the great ceremonial 

 kiva of Pueblo Bonito, New 

 Mexico,^ and form one of several 

 connecting links between that re- 

 gion and the Gila-Salt region. 

 (Blue, Arizona, Cat. No. 245540, 

 U.S.N.M.) 



Another remarkable specimen 

 (fig. 84) is ornamented with two 

 snakes coiled about the interior. 

 One snake is black and the other fig. 84.— snakb design from bowl prom 

 is patterned with diagonal lines, 



as though to represent the markings of the snake. The tails of these 

 snakes begin at the rim and the heads are brought together at the 

 center of the bottom, which is unusual, the customary method being 

 to oppose and interlock such figures. The head is arrow-shaped, in 

 solid black, having in the center a white area with a black dot for 

 the eye. The exterior lead color surface is spotted with kaolin, 

 evidently put on with the finger. This spotting does not cover the 

 entire surface, a wedge-shaped clear space being left on one side. 

 This bowl was for ceremonial use. (Cat. No. 231990, U.S.N.M., 

 Spur Ranch Cienaga.) 



Figure 85 shows circles inclosing a four-bird world quarter conven- 

 tion on a gradined background. In the center, as though interpreting 

 the design, are four birds perched on angles of a square. (See Bird 

 Circuit Symbolism, p. 103.) The bowl is bright red and well finished. 



^ Work cited on p. 50. 



