THE HANDLED GROUP, UNPA1NTED. 73 



In figure i, the two-headed serpent is passed entirely around the vessel almost 

 three times. The serpent symbol also survives in the geometric decorations shown 

 in figure c (from the same locality), as well as in figures d and e. 



Not all specimens of the black incised group are incised. One of these ex- 

 ceptions is reproduced in figure /. It is a vase with large plain handles, which 

 appears to have been used as a receptacle for the white substance that fills the in- 

 cisions on vessels of this group. The interior of a vase of about the same capacity, 

 belonging to the lost color group, is also smeared with the same white paste. 



A vase recalling a Costa Rican (Tres Rios) variety of ware is reproduced in 

 figure 116 a. Two parallel incised lines, forming a band, describe the circumference 

 in a zigzag course, crossing what might be called the equator at twelve points, 

 and where they meet the lines are sometimes broken. This band is perfectly 

 plain, the punctate areas being the triangular fields each bounded by the band 

 and the equator, six of them above the latter and six below. The two elements 

 in the realistic serpent are here beginning to separate. The same thing is 

 taking place about the neck of the vessel, where there are two plain horizontal 

 bands and a dotted zone above them. Contrary to the general rule, an inter- 

 esting incised pattern adorns the bottom of this vase (fig. 1166). Two plain 

 bands bound a rectangular field. On each of the long sides of the rectangle are 

 three triangles, each bounded on two sides by a plain zigzag band. Only the 

 enclosures, rectangular and triangular, are dotted with incisions. The breaking up of 

 the elements that went to make up a realistic serpent (or serpents) results not only 

 in economy of labor but also in more thoroughly covering the area to be decorated I 

 hence conventionalism has ever been as much the child of economy as of ritual. 



The breaking up of the elements that enter into the realistic representation of the 

 serpent is seen also in figure 117, where the shoulder of a small vase is ornamented 



Fig. 117. Small vase with shoulder 



decoration consisting of a trian- p; g . ng.Tripod bowl with supports re- 



gular treatment of the serpent mo- presenting a fish. Serpent ware. '/ 



tive. Serpent ware. */ 



with a series of triangles formed by the body motive with the body-markings appear- 

 ing only in the enclosed spaces. This series of illustrations ends with a tripod vase 

 (fig. 118), the body of which is plain. The supports are representations of the fish. 



THE HANDLED GROUP, UNPAINTED. 



There is a comparatively large group of unpainted ware that is related on the 

 one hand to the salmon-colored variety of armadillo ware, and on the other, to 

 MEMOIRS CONN. ACAD., Vol. III. 10 



