ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCHES IN NICARAGUA. 



13 



An ornament, in the position of a handle, on No. XXXIII was a laughing 

 face. The ornaments on these large jars were always in relief, luted on, and not 

 strong enough for service as handles. 



No. XXXV, an oblong jar, was lying on its side. The fancifully painted 

 cap was in position, and closed it so completely that but little earth had entered. 

 Just beside it were two fancy bowls blackened by fire. 



No. XXXIX had two caps, a fancy bowl, and one shaped like a pot, with a 

 flat bottom. Near by were several painted plates and bowls and a water jar. 

 In one place the smaller jars were piled on each other, and several times bones 

 were found outside the jars. 



No. XLVI had a simple slit in one side, and star-shaped holes in the other 

 three. Possibly it was set in shallow water, and used to preserve fish alive. 



The cap to No. LX, Fig. 4, was too small, and had slipped in. 



The small urns, which were used for children, were more apt to contain 

 beads and other ornaments. Marine shells were found in many jars, usually 

 with holes for strings. 



Fig. 13. 



Fig. 14. 



No. 22,371. 

 Painted bowl found outside urn No. LXVII. 



No. 22,311. 

 Painted bowl, cap of urn No. LXIX. 



Fig. 15. 



No. L>2,357. 

 Painted plate. 



There was great variety in the shape and quality of the caps. The spherical 

 jars generally had earthenware, pot-shaped caps, of material similar to that of 

 the jars, while the oblong jars, as a rule, had painted fancy caps of various 

 shapes, the shallow bowl-form predominating. These seemed to have been in- 

 tended for household purposes, and were used here in emergencies, or when 

 affection prompted extravagance. 



The rim of No. LXXXII was forty-four inches below the surface. 



