1 68 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OK NATURAL SCIENCES. 



either wood, stone, or shell, that we are not surprised to find their 

 best work in that material. 



It is an interesting fact that with all this cleverness in the hand- 

 ling of clay, and in the delineation of varied models, the art had not 

 freed itself from the parent stem — the vessel — and launched out 

 into an independent field. In a few cases such an end seems to 

 have been achieved by certain groups of mound builders, notably 

 the case mentioned by Prof. Putnam in the Sixteenth Annual Report 

 of the Peabody Museum. Modeling in clay was probably confined 

 to vessels for the reason that, through their humble agency, the art 

 was developed. 



Up to the present time I have met with but six of these curious head- 

 shaped vases. All were obtained from the vicinity of Pecan Point, 

 Arkansas, and have, like other vessels, been associated with human 

 remains in graves or mounds. It is true that in all cases the bones 

 of the dead have not been found, but this only indicates their com- 

 plete decay. The question as to whether or not these vases were 

 made exclusively for sepulchral purposes must remain unanswered ; 

 there is no source of information upon the subject. Such a pur- 

 pose is, however, suggested in this case by the semblance of death 

 given to the faces. The finest example yet found is shown in Fig. 65. 



Form. — In form it is a simple head, five inches in height and five 

 inches wide from ear to ear. The aperture of the vase is in the 

 crown, and is surrounded by a low, upright rim, slightly recurved. 

 The cavity is roughly finished, and follows pretty closely the con- 

 tour of the exterior surface excepting in projecting features such as 

 the ears, lips, and nose. The walls are generally from one-eighth 

 to one-fourth of an inch in thickness, the base being about three- 

 eighths. The bottom is flat, and takes the level of the chin and 

 jaws. 



Material. — The material does not differ from that of other vessels 

 of this locality. There is a large i)ercentage of shell, some particles 

 of which are quite large. 



Color and Finish. — The paste is yellowish gray in color and 

 rather coarse in texture. The vase was modelled in the plain clay 

 and permitted to harden before the devices were engraved. 

 After this a thick film of fine yellowish-gray clay was applied to the 

 face, partially filling up the engraved lines. The remainder of the 

 surface, including the lips, received a thick coat of dark red paint. 

 The whole surface was then highly polished. 



