ANTHROPOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 71 



are larger and better preserved, although I was unable to secure a 

 complete, unbroken vessel. 



The only form that came to my notice, although thousands of 

 pieces were examined, is a kind of deep cup or bowl, not unlike 

 our common flower pot, and having a flattish bottom and an ex- 

 tremely uneven and ragged rim. In all cases the exterior surface 

 is covered with impressions of coarse woven fabrics, the single indi- 

 cation of advance toward better finish being a slight polishing of 

 the interior surface, which was accomplished with a smooth imple- 

 ment, such as a pebble or shell. Where well preserved, the paste 

 is generally hard and fine grained, but shows in all cases a rather 

 rough granular fracture. The character of the tempering material 

 cannot be made out, but, in a number of cases, the texture indicates 

 the former presence of fibrous particles like finely pulverized grass, 

 leaves, or straw. The surface is of a pale, yellowish red or terra 

 cotta color, the result of the baking, while the interior of the mass is 

 generally a dark gray. 



In Fig. 2, I present an example of this pottery which is restored 

 from fragments. These did not come from the wall of the section, 

 but from a pit, a short distance away, where the pieces were larger 



Fig. 2. — Vessel of the most primitive style. 



and better preserved. In this example the rim is thick and slightly 

 enlarged as if squeezed over the edge of a basket used as a mold. In 

 most cases no attempt has been made to render the edge even or 

 smooth, and the finger marks and the irregular partings of the mar- 

 gin, which came from squeezing the clay into or over molds and 

 expanding the edges to secure greater size, are all visible. 



It is difficult to find a well preserved and clearly defined impres- 



