HOLMES] SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SCALLOPED DISKS. 273 



plates), one is cut in stone, three are painted upon pottery, and four are 

 executed in copper. With two exceptions they are inclosed in circles, 

 and are hence symmetrical Greek crosses, the ends being rounded to 

 conlorni to the circle; the lemainiiig two (Figs. 14 and l^^) represent 

 forms of the Latin cross, and resemble the crosses attached to the rosa- 

 ries of the Catholic priesthood. A silver cross similar to the last 

 given was obtained from a mound in Ohio. 



The plate itself is instructive, and may be presented without further 

 remark. 



SCALLOPED DISKS. 



In making a hasty classification of the many engraved gorgets, I have 

 found it convenient to place in one group a numerous and somewhat ex- 

 traordinary class of designs which have been engraved upon scalloped 

 disks. Like the cross, the symbol here represented is one that cannot 

 with certainty be referred to an original. The general sha])e of the 

 disks is such as to suggest to most minds a likeness to the sun, the 

 scallops being suggestive of the rays. As this orb is known to be an ob- 

 ject of first importance in the economy of life — tiie source of light and heat 

 — it is naturally an object of veneration among many primitive i)eoples. 

 It is well known that the barbarian tribes of Mexico and South Amer- 

 ica had well-developed systemsof sun-worship, and that they employed 

 symbols of many forms, some of which still retained a likeness to the 

 original, while others had assumed the garb of animals or fanciful 

 creatures. These facts being known, it seems natural that such a sym- 

 bol as the one undci' consideration should be referred to the great orig- 

 inal which it suggests. 



The well-known fact that the district from which these gorgets come, 

 was, at the time of discovery by the whites, inhabited by a race of sun- 

 worshipers — the Natchez — gives to this assumi^tion a shadow of con- 

 firmation. So far as I am aware, however, no one has ventured a po.si- 

 tive opinion in regard to their significance, but such suggestions as 

 have been made incline toward the view indicated above. I feel the 

 great necessity of caution in such matters, and while combating the 

 idea that the designs are ornamental or fanciful only, I am far from at- 

 tributing to them any deeply mysterious significance. They may in 

 some way or other indicate political or religious station, or they may 

 even be cosmogenic, but the probabilities are much greater that they 

 are time symbols. Before venturing further, however, it will be well to 

 describe one of these disks, a typical example of which is presented in 

 Plate LIV. 



The specimen chosen as a type of these rosette-like dis!;s was ob- 

 tained from a mound near Nashville, Tenn., by Professor Powell. It 

 was found near the head of a skeleton, which was much decayi d, and 

 had been so disturbed by recent movements of the soil as to render it 

 diflicult to determine its original jjosition. The shell used is appar- 

 ently a large specimen of the Busycon pervetsnm, although the lines 

 ' 18e 



