476 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1896. 



])ractico of the people to -whom tliey referred.' The 8ei)tum of the nose appears to 

 liavo been pierceil, and the horizontal depression across the ujiper lip may indicate 

 the former jiresence of a suspended ornament. 



* * * * * * . # 



It will be well to observe that npon the forehead, at the top, there is a small per- 

 forated knob or loop. Similar appendages may be seen n])on many of the clay human 

 heads from this valley. A Mexican terra-cotta head now in the museum at IVIexico 

 has a like feature, and, at the same time, has closed eyes and an open mouth. 



All of these heads, including also some of those in the National Museum, are much 

 alike in conception and execution. 



This fact Avill be forcibly impressed npon the inind by a study of fig. 423 [our 

 plate 48, fig. 2], which represents a specimen recently exhumed at Pecan Point by 

 agents of the Bureau of Ethnology. In size, form, color, finish, modeling of features, 

 and expression this head closely resembles the one iirst described. The work is not 

 quite so carefully executed, and the head has probably not such pronounced indi- 

 viduality. TLie curious device that in the other examples appeared near the left eye 

 here occurs on both sides. The lower part of the face is elaborately engraved. 

 Three liues cross the upper lip and cheeks, reaching to the ear, a baud of fret-like 

 d<'viees extend across the mouth to the base of the ears, and another band filled in 

 with oblique reticulated lines passes around the chin and along the jaws. The ears 

 are perforated as in the other case, and the septum of the nose is partially broken 

 away as if it had once held a ring. A perforated knob has occupied the top of the 

 forehead as in the other case. The face is coated with a light yellowish-gray slip, 

 and the remainder of the surface is red. 



Mr. F. S. Delleiibaugh, who combines tlie archfpologist with the art- 

 ist, has published'^ some observations aud conclusions concerning this 

 specimen (plate 48, fig. 2). He begins his paper with the declaration, 

 conceded as true, that the ISTorth American aborigines have not been 

 successful in depicting the human face. It might be added that they 

 have been no more successful in depicting the human form. He then 

 declares that the excellence of these two or three specimens is far 

 beyond the ability of the aboriginal sculptor as shown in all other 

 specimens, and gives it as his opinion that these were death masks. 



Soft clay was jiressed upon the dead features, and when sufficiently dry it was 

 removed and other soft clay thinly pressed into the mold obtained. The mask thus 

 made was built upon until the jar was comiileted. 



He declares Mr. Holmes's theory of a free hand sculpture to have 

 been an impossibility. He thinks it to have been taken in the manner 

 suggested from "a young redskin somewhat distorted by disease and 

 death. The age might be anywhere from 10 to IG, if a male, and 14 to 

 20 if a female." He is of opinion (again differing from Mr. Holmes) 

 that the perforations through the knob on the forehead, and those in 



'Some of the tribes on the Northwest Coast have a custom of perforating the rim 

 of the ear in a manner similar in appearance to these. Strauds of red woolen yarn 

 are drawn in aud tied, which hang almost to the waist. Models of these are in the 

 American Museum of Natural History, Central l^ark. New York. It is not suggested 

 that there was any relatiou between the two. 



-Amer. Anthrop., February, 1897, X, l^. 49. 



