56 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 92 



several pieces indicate that they were built tip by the coiling process. 

 The size of the vessels is highly variable; they range from small 

 pieces (presumably models of larger forms) to very large vessels 

 which, to judge from fragments, were at least i meter in diameter 

 with a thickness of from 2 to 5 cm. Some of the small pieces are 

 relatively thin (5 mm in thickness), but this is rather exceptional. 



A variety of shapes are represented (pis. 7, 8). One common type, 

 unfortunately represented at this site in complete form only by minia- 

 ture pieces, is a cylindrical vase with an annular foot, incised designs 

 on the body, and two vertical lugs on the sides. These range from an 

 almost vertical form with flaring lips to a type markedly constricted 

 just above the base and lacking any flare to the rim (pi. 8, fig. i). 

 One small vase (pi. 8, fig. i, i) was once elaborately decorated with 

 incised lines and punctate impressions, but weathering has left only a 

 faint indication of this former complexity. The others have simple 

 geometric Hne and punctate ornamentation (pi. 8, fig. i). Both the 

 shapes and the decoration of these smaller vessels, as well as the 

 ornate but crudely modeled lugs, suggest a somewhat careless copying 

 of better models. As will become evident when the pottery from 

 similar island sites is discussed, these small crude vases should prob- 

 ably be regarded merely as models of larger vases in daily use, the 

 latter being offered for the most part only in a broken condition, 

 whereas the small, crude, but complete models were made primarily 

 for offertory purposes. Unfortunately, only one incomplete larger 

 vessel of this type was recovered at this site. Unlike its smaller 

 imitations, it is composed of thin, well-finished pottery (3 mm in 

 thickness) with fine grit tempering. The annular base is decorated 

 with broad, horizontally incised lines and heavy punctate marks. The 

 upper body being absent, the main design is but scantily represented 

 by applicjued strips of clay and punctate impressions. This applique 

 design probably represents one version of the " manatee " motif (for 

 more complete examples see pi. 18, fig. 2, a, b; and fig. 18). Frag- 

 ments of these well-finished vessels were found at several other 

 sites (pi. 24). 



A pottery object of this general cylindrical type with a flare at one 

 end is unique as to the extreme thickness (16 mm) and coarseness of 

 the ware, the absence of lugs or decoration, and the lack of any bottom 

 (pi. 8, fig. I, h). From its present condition it is impossible to tell 

 whether a crude vessel or an open tubular artifact was intended, but 

 the slight rounding at the smaller end suggests the former. 



Another type, represented by five pieces, is a rounded bowl or cup- 

 shaped vessel with one or two vertical loop handles on the sides (pi. 7, 



