NO.    4       INDIAN    SITES    ON    THE    RAPPAHANNOCK — -BUSHNELL  45 
The  indented  lines  on  tlie  surfaces  of  the  fourth  and  fifth  speci- 
mens from  the  left  were  formed  hy  some  hard,  smooth,  and  very 
regular  object  that  was  impressed  upon  the  plastic  clay  before  the 
vessel  was  fired.  The  lines  on  the  fifth  example  are  sharply  defined 
and  reveal  a  median  ridge  extending  the  entire  length.  Several  frag- 
ments of  pottery  bearing  the  same  impressions  were  found  on  sites 
above  the  falls  of  the  Rappahannock ;  it  therefore  appears  to  be  a 
recognized  form  of  ornamentation  practiced  by  the  potters  of  the 
region. 
The  fragments  of  pottery  illustrated  in  plate  13  have  been  chosen 
from  many  pieces  discovered  on  the  site.  The  16  specimens  desig- 
nated by  the  letters  from  a  to  p,  inclusive,  have  been  selected  to 
determine  as  far  as  possible,  with  a  degree  of  certainty,  the  form  of 
basketry  or  type  of  fabric  that  had  been  impressed  upon  the  plastic 
clay  when  the  vessel  was  made.  The  pottery  is  shown  one-half  size, 
but  the  fabric  and  basketry  that  is  revealed  by  the  impressions  is 
restored  and  drawn  exact  size.  The  letters  attached  to  the  drawings 
reproduced  in  figures  6  and  7  are  the  same  as  those  on  the  specimens 
in  plate  13  from  which  the  impressions  were  derived.  They  may  be 
described  as  follows : 
Specimen  a.  Coiled  ware.  Tempering  crushed  quartz.  A  piece  of 
exceptional  interest,  as  it  proves  the  use  of  a  rigid  basket  in  shaping 
a  pottery  vessel.  This  fragment  came  from  near  the  base  of  the 
vessel  as  is  indicated  by  the  convergence  of  the  warp  elements.  This 
is  clearly  shown  in  the  drawing  at  top  of  a,  figure  6.  As  the  basket 
widened,  additional  warp  elements  were  inserted,  to  be  held  together 
by  what  may  have  been  a  continuous  coil  of  a  more  pliable  material. 
The  inside  of  the  fragment  is  next  shown  with  the  line  of  contact  of 
two  coils  of  clay  indicated  by  the  broken  line.  Below  is  sketched  a 
view  of  the  fragment  from  above,  with  a  bit  of  the  basket,  restored, 
pressed  against  the  outer  surface  of  the  vessel.  The  convex  surface 
of  a  coil  which  is  exposed  in  the  fragment  is  indicated  in  the  drawing, 
looking  from  above. 
Specimen  b.  No  evidence  of  coil.  Tempering,  crushed  shell  or 
vegetal  substance,  all  of  which  has  disappeared.  The  impression  of 
coiled  basketry  is  clearly  shown  on  the  surface. 
Specimen  c.  No  evidence  of  coil.  Tempering  leached  away,  caus- 
ing the  ware  to  be  very  porous.  The  surface  bears  the  impression  of 
coiled  basketry. 
Specimen  d.  Coiled  ware.  No  trace  of  tempering.  The  impression 
suggests  a  coarsely  made  matting,  having  a  foundation  of  flat  splints 
