NO. 8 DESIGNS ON MIMBRES POTTERY — FEWKES I] 



A well drawn bird figure shown in figure 35 is represented on the 

 right side. Unlike most of the Alimbres birds its beak is short and 

 the legs are small, placed far back on the body. Almost all the body 

 is covered l)y a checkerboard design composed of alternate squares, 

 white and black in color. The extended primary and secondary 

 feathers of the wing are clearly seen. The tail is quite unlike that 

 of other birds, more like that of some quadruped. The geometrical 

 marking on the body under the extended wing is exceptional. 



The design on the bowl shown in«. figure 36 is an imknown bird 

 whose neck is ornamented with a number of dotted squares arranged 

 in a zigzag figure recalling the design on the head of a Horned 

 Serpent shown elsewhere. The association of the checkerboard figure 

 on the sun and serpent symbol is highly suggestive. The puncture 

 in the middle of this bowl hides the figure on the body which is indi- 

 cated by ends of white lines. This bird stands above an implement 

 of unknown use. 



Figures 36a to 36/ represent the different forms of this implement 

 which is several times figured with the realistic designs from the 

 Mimbres. The exact use of these objects is not known but it has 

 lieen conjectured that they were knives, batons, or other stone objects, 

 with handles. The simplest form is shown in figure 36a and con- 

 sists of an elongated blade attached to a handle. This blade has zigzag 

 markings which Mr. De Lancey Gill has suggested represent chipping 

 of a stone implement (" sword "). 



Figures 36/? and 36r are aberrant forms of an implement that may 

 have been used for defense, the same shown under a bird in figure 36. 

 Figure 36/ resembles in some respects a stone spear point. 



Figure 36a introduces a figure of a circular body between the handle 

 and the shaft, and two crescentic extensions between the handle and 

 the blade. 



Figure 36^ would seem to be analogous to the group of implements 

 above although it wants the handle so conspicuous in the three pre- 

 ceding figures. It has a circular extremity around which are a number 

 of small semicircles. This object was held in the hand of a quadruped, 

 whereas, the other objects were associated with birds. 



In figure 36/, where two of these objects are represented on the 

 same bowl, we have, in addition to the handle, radiating lines at the 

 point of attachment of the shaft and handle. 



The middle of this bowl has been punctured in " killing," thus 

 rendering it impossible to discover whether an arm and leg is drawn 

 on each side. 



