298 ART IN SHELL OF THE ANCIENT AMERICANS. 



office. The upper extremity of the body is occupied by a circle one- 

 eig^hth of an inch in diameter, which represents the eye. The head is 

 not distinguished from the body by any sort of constriction for the neck, 

 but has evidently been crowned by a nule aurora like crest similar to 

 that found in so many aboriginal designs. This does not appear in the 

 engraving given, as it, as well as other features, was so nearly obliter- 

 ated as to escape observation until the idea was suggested by the study 

 of other similar designs. The mouth is barely suggested, being repre- 

 sented by three shallow lines placed so low on the trunk that they oc- 

 cu])y what should be the chest. From the side of the head a number of 

 lines, probably meant for plumes, extend across the bordering lines 

 almost to the edge of the shell ; below this are two perforated loops, 

 which seem to take the place of ears ; the one on the right is doubly 

 perforated aud has a peculiar extension, in a bent or elbowed line, across 

 the border. The arms are attached to the sides of the body near the 

 middle in a haphazard sort of way and are curiously double jointed ; 

 they terminate, however, in well-defined hands againstthe right and 

 left borders, the thumb au<l fingers being, in each case, distinctly rep- 

 resented. The legs and feet are at first exceedingly hard to make out, 

 but when once traced are as clear as need be. The body terminates 

 abruptly below within an inch of the base of the inclosed space. One 

 leg extends directly downward, the foot resting upon the border line ; 

 the other extends backward from the base of the trunk and rests against 

 the border line at the right ; the legs have identical markings, which 

 probably represent the costume. Each foot terminates in a single well- 

 defined talon or claw, which folds upward against the knee. This is a 

 most interesting feature, and one which this design possesses in common 

 with the three other drawings of the hunuin figure found in Tennessee. 

 The spaces between the various members of the figure are filled in with 

 ornamental appendages, which seem to be attached to the hands and 

 feet, aud probably represent plumes. The numerous perforations in this 

 specimen are worthy of attention : within the border line there are 

 twenty-six, which vary from one-fourth to one-sixteenth of an inch in 

 diameter. They are ])laced mostly at the joints of the figure or at the 

 junction of two or more lines. Such perforations are of frequent occur- 

 rence in this class of gorgets and may have had some particular signifi- 

 cance to their possessors. This specimen was found in the great mound 

 at Sevierville, Tenn., upon the breast of a skeleton, and is now in the 

 National Collection. It has suffered considerably from decay, the sur- 

 face being deeply furrowed, pitted, and discolored. The holes are much 

 enlarged and the lines in places are almost obliterated. 



I began the study of this design with the thought that, in reference to 

 this specimen at least. Professor Jones was right, and that the confused 

 group of lines might be the meaningless product of an idle fancy, but 

 ended by being fully satisfied that no single line or mark is without its 

 place or its significance. 



