NO. 14 ARCHEOLOGY OF BAY ISLANDS, HONDURAS STRONG 65 



(pi. II, p) is somewhat similar in being highly conventionalized 

 and also has a similar perforation, though this is in the upper rather 

 than the lower portion. The last object on the plate (pi. ii, r) is 

 of light green talc and appears to be a highly conventionalized human 

 figure with three dots, as in the case previously mentioned, sug- 

 gesting the face. 



The largest human representation in the offertory vessel was an 

 ornamental celt of apple-green talc 7 cm in length (pi. 12, e). Incised 

 decoration consists of large circle and dot eyes, a linear mouth, a 

 suggestion of arms and headdress, and vertical and horizontal lines 

 on front and back. The butt end of the celt where the carvings occur 

 is larger than the blade, perhaps representing some sort of socket. 

 A perforation about 9 mm in diameter extends horizontally from 

 shoulder to shoulder. A purely ornamental or ceremonial purpose 

 of this artifact is indicated by its relatively soft material, the absence 

 of any sign of usage, and its perforation and decoration. Another 

 small celt (pi. 13, c) of diopside is beautifully worked. It is of a 

 hard material with a sharp cutting edge but shows no signs of use. 

 In color it is a mottled brown and light bluish green. Its length 

 is 4.6 cm. 



One spindle whorl of gray-green talc is incised on the upper and 

 larger face with a unilinear maze design of considerable complexity 

 (pi. 12, h). The perforation for the spindle has been vertically 

 gouged out, leaving irregular vertical ridges which are lacking in the 

 majority of other perforated pieces. A unique carving of very light 

 green talc represents some sort of bird with a horizontal perforation 

 through the head (pi. 12, a). A globular pendant (pi. 12, c) of green- 

 blue talc is so weathered that, aside from the suggestion of square 

 incised eyes at the top, the remainder of the design is obscure. Two 

 buttonlike objects of dark green talc are of unknown use (pi. 12, 

 d, g). The complete specimen, in addition to the larger center per- 

 foration, has a small hole at the top. A circularly incised ring, care- 

 fully carved from light green talc with two purple streaks down one 

 side, is too small (i cm in inner diameter) for a finger ring (pi. 12, /). 

 Both edges are raised and three incised lines run around the outer 

 circumference between the raised ridges. A fragment of what may 

 have been a plain, polished ring without incisions was also found 

 with this cache. The five objects at the bottom of the plate (pi. 12, 

 i-Jii) are all of various shades of green talc. They served as pendants, 

 as all are carefully perforated. In addition, three other simple objects 

 of this general type are not illustrated. One simple pendant (pi. 

 12, h) is unique in lacking any perforation, an incised line around the 

 smaller end probably serving as an attachment for the suspension cord. 



