182 BUREAU OF A]VIERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 1S2 



In figure 38 <an attempt is made to depict a type of fabric which 

 appears to resemble the one illustrated by Holmes ( 1884, fig. 86) . The 

 fabric described was preserved by copper salts. He and Mr. Far- 

 quharson (1884, pp. 411-412) state that: 



"The warp is composed of four cords, that is two double and hoisted cords and 

 the woof of one such double and twisted cord which passes between the two 

 parts of the warp ; the latter being twisted at each change allowing the cords 

 to be brought close together so as to cover the woof almost entirely." . . . This 

 cloth has a general resemblance to ordinary coffee-sacking. . . . 



Although I am not quite positive, it is my opinion, after having examined 

 the specimen carefully, that the body of the cloth belongs to my first group 

 and that the border only is of the second group. ... A fine preserved bit of 

 cloth . . . was recently found fixed to the surface of a copper image from one of 

 the Etowah mounds in Georgia. 



A unique type of fabric (fig. 39) was made of a series of warp 

 threads which were either plaited or braided and attached to what 

 may be single woof tlireads. Holmes (1884, p. 418) indicated that 

 such a teclinique was used in the manufacture of sandals by the 

 ancient cave inhabitants of the State of Kentucky. "The fiber has the 

 appearance of bast and is plaited in untwisted strands." 



In the various drawings, fillets of fibers are indicated at either end 

 of the textile which do not appear in the impressions gathered from 

 the many sherds. By so doing, it is hoped the specialized techniques 

 employed will be made clear to the reader. 



It is true that Holmes illustrates and describes a number of textiles 

 but he does not always describe the technique by which they were 

 manufactured. The presence of a permanent or fixed frame upon 

 which textiles were manufactured is one point that the present study 

 establishes. The next point is the additional areal distribution of the 

 same techniques. That this particular area was influenced by other 

 cultures existing in Tennessee, which is higlily doubtful, or those cul- 

 tures to the northeast, which seems more plausible, would indicate a 

 cultural linkage which heretofore has not been mentioned. 



With regard to the use of fibers and string, the writer came across 

 one interesting piece of ethnological information thought wise to pass 

 on to others. This is the existence of and the use by the Indians of 

 southern Virginia of what might be called a "quipu." Lederer {in 

 Alvord and Bidgood, 1912, p. 143) suggested this when ho said: 



An account of time, and other things, they keep on a string or leather throng tied 

 in knots of several colors. I took particular notice of small wheels serving this 

 purpose among the Oenocks, because I have heard that the Mexicans use the 

 same. 



This whole passage is higlily suggestive of the quipu. 



