53 PECKED, GROUND AND POLISHED STONE. 



the face between the nose and the month. The ears are nnproportionally 

 large. There is no body, properly speaking, but merely a kind of four-sided 

 pedestal with a flat base on which the figure can stand. Its front side shows an 

 appendage in the form of a small apron, which may, however, be intended to 

 mark the male sex. Lastly, there are to be seen on both sides of the figure 

 cavities, perhaps cut out in lieu of arms. The stone image just described is 

 undoubtedly among the best of its kind thus far discovered within the United 

 States, and compares favorably with kindred sculptures of Mexican or Central 

 American origin. 



The sculpture of a human head, cut almost in life size from a kind of lime 

 stone, is of interest, irrespectively of its intrinsic value, on account of having 

 been in the possession of President Thomas Jefferson, while he lived at 

 Monticello (Fig. 216). Although much mutilated, this relic is still sufficiently 

 preserved to show the very creditable original workmanship. There is no 

 exaggeration or deformity in any part of this head, which may be the likeness 

 of some aged person with a deeply wrinkled face. A conical cavity in the 

 base of the head evidently served for keeping it in position by some sort of 

 support. There is another cavity in the back part of the head. The records 

 of the Smithsonian Institution contain no information as to the place where it 

 was found. 



A curious little relic, made of a dark ferruginous stone, deserves notice on 

 account of its grotesque character (Fig. 217, Ohio). The stone seems to be 

 a natural formation, only modified by the carving of round eyes, a nose, and a 

 wide open mouth. 



It is well known that the Mexicans were far more advanced in the art of 

 stone sculpture than the Indian tribes inhabiting higher latitudes of North 

 America. There are in the collection some remarkable specimens of Mexican 

 stone sculpture, among them a massive slab worked in the shape of a human 

 head surmounted by an elaborate head-dress (Fig. 218). This relic, obtained 

 from Tuspan, consists of some kind of volcanic rock, and may have belonged 

 to a large figure. The head measures fifteen inches in length and is thirteen 

 inches and a half broad. Small Mexican carvings in stone are not wanting 

 in the National Museum; but as a description of all these specimens would 

 occupy too much space, only a few will be noticed. There is, for instance, a 

 flat carving of the human figure, in which the head alone, including a peculiar 

 head-dress, is carefully, though not artistically, executed in its details, while 

 the body merely forms a sort of appendage (Fig. 219). This relic consists of 

 a greenish-gray stone, but not of the much-valued cbalchilmitl. Another 

 small specimen, measuring about an inch and a half in height, and carved 

 from white alabaster, represents a human figure with a remarkable counte 

 nance and an unproportionally small body in the squatting posture character 

 istic of Mexican images (Fig. 220). The neck is pierced for suspension. 

 Lastly, we would mention a carving in the shape of a death s head, not larger 

 than a walnut, which was found among the ruins of Chichen Itza, in Yucatan. 



