HOLMES.] MASK-LIKE GORGETS. 295 



tiiugular, tlie upper surface being pretty well rouiidetl and ornamented 

 with a corona of incised lines, which are arranged in six groups of four 

 each. Inside of these a single inc'sed line runs parallel with the edge, 

 from temple to temple. The eyes are represented by small circles with 

 t-mall central pits, and the lids are indicated by long, pointed ellipses. 

 From each of the eyes a group of three zigzag lines extends downward 

 across the cheek, terminating near the edge of the plate, opi)osite the 

 luouth. These lines may be interpreted in two ways : First, if the ob- 

 ject is a mourning mask, made with especial reference to its use in 

 burial, they may signify tears, since, in the pictographic language of 

 many tribes, tears are represented by lines descending from the eyes, 

 and, with other nations, running water is symbolized by curved or zig- 

 zag lines; in the second place, these lines may represent figures painted 

 upon the face during the period of mourning, or they may simply rep- 

 resent the characteristic lines of the painting or tattooing of the clan or 

 tribe to which the deceased belonge<l. It is not at all improbable that 

 these objects were further embellished by painted designs whicli have 

 been obliterated. 



The nose is represented by a flat ridge, which terminates abruptly 

 below, the nostrils being indicated by two small excavations. The 

 month is represented by an oval node, in which a horizontal groove has 

 been made. 



The most elaborately engraved example of these masks yet brought 

 to the notice of the public is shown in Plate LXVIII. It was obtained 

 by Mr. Lncien Carr from a large mound, known as the Ely Mound, near 

 Kose Hill, Lee County, Virginia, and is described and illustrated bj- 

 that gentleman in the tenth annual report of the Peabody Museum.' 

 Wishing to present this fine specimen to the best advantage i)ossible, I 

 have had a large cut made from a photograph furnished by Professor 

 Putnam, curator of the Peabody jMuseum. Parts of the design which 

 were obscure I have strengthened, following the guidance of such frag- 

 ments of lines as were still traceable, or by simply duplicating the lines 

 of the opijosite side, as these designs are in all cases bi symmetrical. 



Having described a great number of relics exhumed from this mound, 

 Mr. Garr goes on to say "that the most interesting of the articles taken 

 from this grave was an engraved shell made from the most dilated por- 

 tion of the Strombus oigas, and carved on the convex side into the like- 

 ness of a human face." It measures l.'5S millimeters in length, by 120 in 

 breadth. It is pei'forated with three holes, "the two upper of which are 

 surrounded with circles, and represent eyes; between these is a raised 

 ridge of shell, in plate of the nose, and below this is a third hole, 

 which is just above a series of lines that were probably intended as the 

 mouth. Four lines, parallel to each other during three-fourths of their 

 length, begin at the outer corner of the eye and are zigzaged to the 

 lower jaw, where they are drawn to a point. The concave side of the 

 ' Carr, iu Tenth Anuual Keport Peabody Museum, p. 87. 



