holmes] GENERAL DISlUSSION. 269 



at times a slightly translucent effect; a result of the spreading or sink- 

 ing of tbe coloring matter of the designs. 



Hardness. — The paste exposed in fractured edges can be scratched 

 with a steel point, and often with ease. Some of the white pottery of 

 ancient Tusayan can be carved almost as readily as cbalk or sun-dried 

 clay. At the same time all localities furnish occasionally specimens 

 that through the accidents of firing have the ring and hardness of 

 stoneware. The ancient pottery is generally superior in hardness to 

 that produced by the historic tribes. 



Color.— This pottery presents a pleasing variety of color, although 

 the light grays prevail, especially in the more archaic varieties. The 

 general color probably depended greatly upon the natural constituents 

 of the clay and the degree of heat applied, and these conditions varied 

 with the locality and the people. Reds and browns result from the 

 presence of iron, which may have been oxidized in burning, or the red 

 oxides may have been used in rare cases as coloring matter in kneading 

 the clay. The surface is often lighter than the mass; a coudition prob- 

 ably resulting from the presence of vegetable matter in the clay, which 

 is destroyed on the surface and remains unchauged within. In the 

 south the colors of the paste are often slightly reddish or yellowish in 

 hue. It is notable that a small percentage of the ware of all localities 

 is red. This gives rise to the suggestion that vessels of this color prob- 

 ably had some especial or sacred use. Color is known to have an inti- 

 mate connection with superstitious observauces among many barbarian 

 peoples. 



Form. — In form the ancient ware is universally simple and pleasing. 

 Many shapes known to both civilized and barbarian art are absent. 

 High necked bottles and shallow plates are of rare occurrence, and 

 pitchers, canteens or lenticular bottles, and vessels with legs and stands 

 are unknown. There is a notable dearth of life forms, a circumstance 

 that would seem to indicate the rather tardy development of a taste for 

 modeling — a condition which may have resulted from the comparatively 

 recent origin or introduction of art in clay. 



Vessels with full globular bodies prevail. The bottoms are generally 

 round or a little pointed, indicating primitive conditions of life and sug- 

 gesting great simplicity in methods of manufacture and in the models 

 copied. 



Origin of Forms. — There can be no doubt that ceramic forms are 

 to a great extent derivative, and the search for their originals will 

 constitute a most important feature in our studies. Turning to nature 

 for possible originals, we find them liberally supplied by both the animal 

 and the vegetable kingdom. The shells of the sea shore were probably 

 among the first receptacles for food and drink. We have examples of 

 pottery from the mounds in the Mississippi Valley, representing three 

 or four distinct varieties of shells. The shells of turtles and the horns 

 of cattle and other animals have also served as models. 



