poLMEs.] ■ CLASSIFIOATION OF PENDANT GORGETS. 267 



shapo, 1)0 used for slinttles; besides, tbej- show no evidence of marginal 

 wear, sucb as would result from tliis use. The fact, too, that the mate- 

 rial had to be-broiight from the distant sea-shore would seem to render it 

 too rare and precious to be employed in the ordinary arts when wood, 

 stone, and bone would serve the purpose as well. Owing to the care- 

 lessness or negligence of collectors we have but little information in 

 regard to their relation to the human remains with which they were 

 deposited. Such facts as we have, however, tend, I believe, to show 

 that they were used for personal decoration. Again, the material of 

 which they are formed is, on account of its beauty, especially adapted 

 for ornament, and for this use it has been almost exclusively reserved 

 by peoples as distant from the sea as were the ancient peoples of the 

 Ohio Valley. 



ENGRAVED GORGETS. 



It has already been suggested that the simpler forms of pendants 

 with plain surfaces may have had particular significance to their pos- 

 sessors, as insignia, amulets, or symbols, or that they may have re- 

 ceived painted designs of such a character as to give significance to 

 them. For ornament the natural or plainly polished surface of the shell 

 possessed sufficient beauty to satisfy the most fastidious taste — a beauty 

 that could hardly be enhanced by the addition of painted or incised 

 figures. But we find that many of the larger gorgets obtained from the 

 mounds and graves of a large district have designs of a most interest- 

 ing natui-e engraved upon them, which are so remarkable in conception 

 and execution as to command our admiration. Such is the character 

 of these designs that we are at once impressed with the idea that they 

 are not products of the idle fancy, neither is it possible that they had 

 no higher office than the gratification of barbarian vanity. 1 have given 

 much time to their examination, and, day by day, have become more 

 strongly impressed with the belief that no single design is without its 

 significance, and th:,it their production was a serious art which dealt 

 with matters closely interwoven with the history, mythology and polity 

 of a people gradually developing a civilization of their own. 



Although these objects were worn as i)ersonal ornaments they proba- 

 bly had specialized uses as insignia, amulets, or symbols. 



As insignia, they were badges of office or distinction. The devices en- 

 graved upon them were derived from numy sources and were probably 

 sometimes supplemented by numeral records representing enemies killed, 

 prisoners taken, or other deeds accomplished. 



As amulets, they were invested with protective or remedial attributes 

 and contained mystic devices derived from dreams, visions, and many 

 other sources. 



