246 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1902. 



or less rigid, inclosed within stitches, the only implement being an awl 

 of some kind. Fig. 40 shows the metatarsal of an antelope sharpened 

 in the middle and harder portion of the column, the joint serving for 

 a grip for the hand. It was the universal prehistoric sewing imple- 

 ment of savage women and persists to our day. 



In every living tribe of basket makers these awls are among the com- 

 monest of woman's tools, most serviceable in sewing garments as well. 

 They are dug up in mounds, found in caves, and are rarely absent from 

 the work baskets of mummies in the arid regions." 



Frank H. Gushing was of the opinion that the bone awl was far 

 better for fine basket work than any implement of steel; the point, 

 being a little rounded, would find its way between the stitches of the 

 coil underneath and not force itself through them. The iron awl, 

 being hard and sharp, breaks the texture and gives a very rough and 

 clumsy appearance to the surface, as will be seen in fig. 51. 



Coiled basketry in point of size presents the greatest extreme. 

 There are specimens delicately made that will pass through a lady's 

 finger ring, and others as large as a flour barrel; some specimens 

 have stitching material one-half inch wide, as in the Pima granaries, 

 and in others the root material is shredded so fine that nearly 100 

 stitches are made within an inch of space. In form the coiled ware 

 may be perfectly flat, as in a table mat, or built up into the most 

 exquisite jar shape. In design the upright stitches lend themselves to 

 the greatest variety of intricate patterns. 



Coiled basketry may be divided into ten varieties, based on struc- 

 tural characteristics. 



The foundation of the coil may be (1) a single element, either splint, 

 or stem, or rod; (2) a stem or other single element, with a thin welt 

 laid on top of it; (3) two or more stems one over another; (4) two 

 stems or other elements laid side by side, with or without a welt; (5) 

 three stems in triangular position; (6) a bundle of splints or small 

 stems; (7) a bundle of grass or small shreds. 



The stitches pass around the foundation in progress (1) interlocking 

 with and sometimes splitting stitches, but not inclosing the founda- 

 tion underneath; (2) under one rod of the coil beneath, however many 

 there may be; (3) under a welt of the coil beneath; (4) through splints 

 or other foundation, in some cases systematically splitting the sewing 

 material underneath. With these explanations it is possible to make 

 the following ten varieties of coiled basketry, matting, or bagging: 



A. Coiled work without foundation. 



jB. vSimple ititerlocking coils. 



0. Single-rod foundation. 



D. Two-rod foundation. 



« Smithsonian Report, 1882, p. 724, fig. 3. 



