128 DAVENPORT ACADEMY Of NATURAL SCIENCES. 



this pottery were "mound-builders," but, at the same time, they 

 were not necessarily of the same race or time as the people who 

 built the mounds of other sections, such as Wisconsin, Ohio, or 

 Georgia. 



Use. — It is difficult to distinguish the functions of the various 

 forms of vessels. We are safe in stating that in very primitive times 

 nearly all were intended for use in the domestic arts, and that as 

 time went on uses were differentiated — form, as a consequence, un- 

 dergoing many changes. It is probable that with mbst peoples 

 particular forms were devoted to especial ceremonial uses. The 

 construction of vases exclusively for mortuary purposes was prob- 

 ably not generally practiced, although a few examples, notably 

 those illustrated in Figs. 14 and 65, point decidedly in this direc- 

 tion. 



Only a small percentage of the vessels, and these generally of the 

 pot-shaped variety, show indications of use over fire. Many forms 

 afford no suggestion of their use and in some cases may have been 

 constructed simply to please the fancy. 



Lamps, whistles, toys, bricks, tiles, etc., in common use with 

 many barbaric nations, are not found in this province. Pipes so 

 neatly shaped by other mound-building peoples are here of a very 

 rude character. 



Construction. — The methods of manufacture have evidently 

 been of a primitive character. The wheel has not been used. At 

 the advent of the whites, the natives were observed to build their 

 vessels by a process known as "coiling," and by modeling over 

 gourds, and over blocks of wood, and masses of indurated clay, 

 shaped for the purpose. 



Baskets were also used as moulds, and pliable fabrics, such as nets 

 and coarse cloths, may have been employed, as by the potters of 

 neighboring peoples. The methods of baking have apparently not 

 been described by early writers, but the ware itself bears the marks 

 of those simple processes known to our modern tribes. It is highly 

 probable that the work was done by the women, and that each com- 

 munity had its skilled potters, who built and baked the ware in the 

 open air, going through those simple incantations and mummeries 

 that accompany the work among most primitive peoples. 



Material. — The material employed has usually been a moder- 

 ately fine granied clay, tempered, in a great majority of cases, if not 

 universally, with pulverized shells. The shells used were doubtless 



