PREHISTORIC ART. 495 



Canon Greenwell, in liis work on Britisli Barrows,' speaking of tlie 

 prehistoric pottery found therein, says: 



The most common forma of ornament are alternate series of parallel horizontal 

 and vertical lines (like heraldic compone, if it were engraved as of gules and azure) ; 

 now and then in a double series (as counter compone); triangles set in rows (or, 

 rather, what heralds call a dancette line of partition), the triangular space formed 

 being filled with parallel diagonal lines, which have a different direction in each 

 alternate space (like alternate representations of heraldic purpure and vert); rows 

 of round or oval impressions encircling the urn; lines forming a reticulated pattern; 

 lines placed herring bone fashion, or in a zigzag. The lines are often made by 

 impressions of twisted thong or cord, but sometimes are drawn on the clay with a 

 sharp-pointed instrument. In some rare cases raised ribs occur in the rim [fig. 59], 

 and one from Rosebrough, Northumberland, has a series of figures in relief [fig. 60]. 



Many of the designs on plates 19 and 20 are taken from Canon Green- 

 well's book, and are snch as here described. 



The first material change in pottery in France and England was X)0S- 

 sibly brought from Etruria. The next was by the importation of the 

 Samian or Aretiue ware brought by the Eomans. This pottery was 

 thick, heavy, hard, resisting all ravages of time, and, except for break- 

 age, the specimens now found are as perfect as they were originally. 

 It was of finer paste, still not made with the wheel, but in molds. The 

 ornamentation was in relief, being usually on the outside, the soft 

 paste having been pressed into the mold. Most of these specimens 

 were brought to western Europe by the Eomans themselves, though.it 

 is supposed they were made there during the long period of Eoman 

 occupation. 



Grecian, Etruscan, and Eoman pottery were all different from any- 

 thing more modern. The knowledge of their manufacture has been 

 lost, and all these kinds of pottery have become extinct. They are 

 almost prehistoric, but because of the localities wherein they have been 

 found, and the objects with which they were associated, they have come 

 to be placed under the head of Classic, rather than Prehistoric, Arch- 

 u'ology. The works on that subject should be consulted by any one 

 desirous of pursuing the study. 



UNITED STATES (EXCLUDING THE TUEBLOS). * 



Neolithic. — Without attempting a discussion of the differences of the 

 culture status of the isTeolithic period in the country occupied by the 

 North American savage, and other countries of the Pueblos, Mexico, 

 Central and South America, it is sufficient to say that there certainly 

 were great differences in the pottery manufactured by the respective 

 peoples of these countries. The southern potteries are so different and 

 so superior to those of the peoples to the north that it would require a 

 volume to do them justice. All present attempts will be confined to 

 northern Neolithic peoples. 



I'rofe.ssor HolmeH'H description.— Professor Holmes has gone (juite thor- 



' Page 71. 



