EARTHWORKS ON THE BIG HARPETH RIVER. 



63 



bears a striking resemblance to the features of a Spaniard. The crown of the 

 head is surmounted by a hehuet, which presents a totally difterent appearance from 

 the head-dress of the modern Indians. A small handle is attached to the opposite 

 portion of the rim of this bowl. This small vessel was evidently used to hold paint, 

 as it still contains red ochre. The ears of the head are bored, or rather slit, after 

 the fashion of the North American Indians and many other savage nations, and a 

 circular hole passes through the upper portion of the crest of the helmet. The 

 lips are formed by an oval, ridged projection, as is usual with many Indian images 

 and figures. 



A similar head was found in Williamson County, Tennessee, in the vicinity of 

 some large mounds, and is represented in Fig. 31, 



Fig. 31. 



Fig. 32. 



Fig. 31. Head crowned with <i helmet (natnr.al size), from a large mound in Williaiii.son Connty, Tennessee. 

 Fig. 32. Black earthenware head (natural size), from an ancient earthwork inclosing mounds near Hickman, 

 Tennessee. 



Fig. 32 represents a small black earthenware head -with a round face, and 

 crowned with small round tufts or knobs, from an ancient earthwork inclosing 

 mounds and pyramids, near Hickman, Tennessee. 



The taste and skill of this race are manifested also in the small earthenware 

 vessels which we supposed to have been manufactured for tlu> use and amusement 

 of the children, such as the small reddish-yellow cup or pot. Fig. 33, which was 

 taken from a stone grave. 



These relics illustrate in a clear manner the taste and skill of this ancient race in 

 fashioning earthenware and imasres; and it is evident that the artist Avho was 

 capable of producing the head on the paint bowl must have attained a high degree 

 of skill in his art. 



The skull obtained from the stone grave Avhich contained the paint bovvl is 

 square and pyramidal in its shape, with prominent superciliary ridges and nasal 



