192 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 189 



insure permanency. It is probable that such objects were made while 

 members of the community were seated around campfires on some cold 

 winter night and, to pass the time away, took up clumps of moist 

 clay that were handy and unconsciously molded these objects into 

 shape. Wlien the interest in the object no longer existed it was cast 

 into the open fire and soon forgotten by the maker. Later, when the 

 fire area was cleared away, these objects were tossed into a midden 

 pit along with the ashes or scattered onto midden piles within the 

 confines of the village area. 



Furthermore, a lump of compacted ashy clay was found in Feature 

 2 at a depth of between 1.0 foot and 2.0 feet. It is roughly triangular 

 in outline and has a maximum length of 4.7 cm., a breadth of 3.8 cm., 

 and a maximum thickness of 2.4 cm. Near the apex of the piece there 

 is a truncated conical hole that is widest at its point of entry (1.9 

 cm.) and tapers down to a diameter of 1.0 cm., continuing through 

 the clay object. Under microscopic examination there are no vertical 

 striations inside the bore, a fact indicating that the object was never 

 used as a form of abrader. The physical composition of the object 

 is rather soft; a fine powder comes off on the fimiger when rubbed 

 across the surface. The purpose and use of these objects is 

 problematical. 



GENERAL STATEMENT 



I found Strong's (1940, p. 364) summary of Mandan pottery note- 

 worthy in that he found many traits that are similar to those of the 

 Hosterman series. He stated : 



The pottery is rather granular and appears to have been made by the paddle- 

 and-anvil method, no evidences of coiling being observed. ... is tempered 

 with medium to fine grit obtained from granitic rocks broken down in the fires. 

 Colors are predominantly dark but run from almost black, through browns and 

 gray, to very rare buff or even orange tones. The surfaces are often superficially 

 blackened with grease. . . . Red hematite in a powdery form occurs inside 

 some sherds but appears to be accidental, probably as a result of use in mixing 

 paint. The surface of most pottery is marked by vertical grooves and ridges, 

 apparently the result of paddling with grooved or thong-wrapped paddles 

 [simple stamping]. . . . The shoulders and necks of vessels show vertical 

 scratches as though grass-rubbed. All have been smoothed down, and the small 

 vessels often have a plain surface. . . . Rims and necks that are S-shaped are 

 most common [which is not true of the Hosterman site, as shown earlier], flaring 

 profiles with lips somewhat thickened next [which are a minority form at the 

 Hosterman site], and intermediate forms [7 percent]. Castellations, lugs, 

 spouts, and strap handles are rare. . . . The S-shaped rims are usually deco- 

 rated with horizontal or diagonal twisted single-cord impressions, closely spaced. 

 A curvilinear design suggesting a rainbow is very common. . . . Incised designs 

 are common on the shoulders of vessels, usually consisting of opposed diagonals. 

 About one-fourth of the rims are plain, and finger-pinched rims are common. 



On the other hand, Cooper (1949, p. 303) noted that the pottery re- 

 mains from a number of sites between Pierre and the mouth of the 



