52 ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCHES IN NICARAGUA. 



Fig. 109. 



No. 28,809. 



Oblong vessels from Santa Helena. 



birds and other animals ; and one vase, with a grotesque human head, reminds 

 one of those described by Piedrahita. as made in imitation of the idols of the 

 Muyscas, and used to hold their offerings of gold and emeralds. Many beauti- 

 fully painted vases, usually tripods, were found, with small terra-cotta images 

 of human beings, two of dogs, and one of an armadillo, all painted. 



The shoe-shaped jars were usually small, although one measured 18 x 13 

 inches. This contained fragments of painted pottery and bones of some animal. 

 Near by was a human skeleton extended, with feet to the west and arms out- 

 stretched. An alligator- shaped vase was by the head, and near the skeleton 

 were fourteen small vessels of various shapes and size3. The skull was rather 

 thick and short, apparently slightly flattened behind. It was broken by the 

 weight of the earth. Near this a jar sixteen inches long, with a broad flat cap, 

 contained a human tooth, two small vessels, and the bones of a small animal ; 

 while in the little vessels were very diminutive bones. 



In some cases large flat jars, with caps of similar description, contained 

 skulls, small vessels, and painted fragments ; while outside, the long bones were 

 extended with feet to the west. These flat jars and caps were usually 21 inches 

 across and 9 deep. The body was probably placed with one of the jars over and 

 another under the head. The bones were even more fragile than those in the 

 burial urns at Luna's probably due to the fact that the land is lower, and they 

 had not the protection of the well closed urns. 



Pig. 110. 



No. 28,442. Bottomless vase, Santa Ilek-nn. 



