NO. 14 ARCHEOLOGY OF BAY ISLANDS, HONDURAS STRONG 95 



and ;;). Taken in conjunction with the larger complete vessels and 

 the tiny models, this entire series would seem to ofTcr a fairly repre- 

 sentative collection of ceramic forms so far as the monochrome ware 

 is concerned. 



The elaboration that frequently characterizes part of this ware is 

 best demonstrated by the intricate incising on certain vessels (pis. 24, 

 26, 27) and the multiplicity of modeled forms taken by lugs and feet 

 (figs. 23-28). It is undoubtedly significant that the most elaborate 

 vessels were completely shattered and the sherds widely scattered in 

 the deposit. This suggests that they were carried to the site in a 

 broken condition and not ceremonially killed /// situ. It should be 

 noted that although elaborate incised work is characteristic of much 

 of the ware, this incising ranges from the pleasing and intricate to the 

 crudest sort of linear and punctate markings. Moreover, some com- 

 plete vessels have no incising of any sort. It should be remembered 

 that most of the sherds in the deposit were without incised decoration. 

 However, bearing this fact in mind, it is justifiable to concentrate 

 attention on the more ornate vessels and portions of vessels, since 

 these show the artistic skill and conventions of the native artisans in 

 a manner best suited for cultural comparisons. 



In order to visualize the art styles represented l>y incising and the 

 modeling of handles, lugs, and feet, in the monochrome ware, each 

 of these features may be considered in order. Handles are not 

 abundant, but 11 vertical loop handles occur in the sherd collection. 

 One of two joined cylindrical clay rolls is surmounted by a grotesque 

 human face (fig. 25, a). Another has an anthropomorphic figure 

 (pi. 27, fig. I, a) of the applique rider type more common on lugs 

 of both the monochrome and the thin polychrome ware. A third very 

 ornate handle consists of a roll of clay indented to suggest a double 

 twisted cord and surmounted by raised punctate decorations (pi. 27, 

 fig. i,b). In addition, one loop handle has a modeled bird^%, ;^ 23, /), 

 two have simplified manatee heads modeled on the upper portion, two 

 are long and narrow bands with three vertical grooves extending 

 their length, one is a simple band with two punctate marks at each end, 

 and two are simple bands with a central vertical ridge surmounted 

 by spurs. 



The monochrome ware reaches its greatest complexity in the wide 

 variety of extremely elaborate, but for the most part very grotesque, 

 lugs. These adornments were evidently portions of medium-large, 

 intricately incised vessels, which were usually ofl^ered in a broken 

 condition. They range in color from brick-red to light bufif and are 

 all from carefully modeled vessels of good technique. Their manner 



