CROSWELL — MOUND EXl>LORATIONS IN S.E. MISSOURI. 537 



shape of fish, frogs, and images of grotesque shape ; while others 

 were decorated with human heads, and those of quadrupeds, 

 birds, coiled serpents, &c. Among the birds, the Pelican and 

 Owl were the most conspicuous. Bottles were found adorned 

 with painted figures representing the sun, stars, and other designs 

 remarkably graceful and tastefully executed. The favorite colors 

 used in their works were red, white, and yellow ; black was found 

 upon only one piece. The largest pieces of pottery obtained 

 were two vessels each capable of containing about two gallons. 

 From their peculiar shape it is conjectured they may have been 

 used as filters. They are circular in form, open at the top, the 

 bottom gradually tapering to an orifice one and a quarter inches 

 in diameter. Dr. Schliemann gives a description of one found 

 at Troy, as follows : " Of the earthenware found in this excava- 

 tion, there is one piece especially deserving of attention. This 

 is a vessel in the form of a helmet, with a round hole at the 

 bottom ; it may have served as a kind of funnel." Fragments of 

 urns were found, the rims of which when entire measured 

 eighteen inches in diameter. 



It is evident from the number of shells found in the mounds 

 that they formed an important item among the treasures of the 

 Mound-builders. From them they wrought articles for use and 

 ornament. Many of them are sea-shells, inhabitants of the Gulf 

 of Mexico, and from the long distance whence they were brought 

 it is reasonable to suppose they were considered of great 

 value. I found several large sea-shells of the Pyrula species in 

 different stages of preservation, and one circular ornament three 

 inches in diameter that had evidently been cut from a large 

 specimen. The convex face was entirely plain, but the concave 

 side bears the figure of a Tarantula, or large spider, very skilfully 

 engraved, the body being formed by a circle enclosing a cross, 

 showing beyond doubt its sacred and symbolic character. This or- 

 nament, when found, lay on the breast-bone of a skeleton, with the 

 concave or ornamented side uppermost. Two holes in the upper 

 part were evidently intended for the thong or string by which it 

 had been suspended from the neck. A circumstance that renders 

 this relic still more interesting is the fact that two other shell orna- 

 ments bearing precisely similar devices have recently been found 

 in Illinois within seven miles of this city, thus proving that the 



