304 POTTERY OF THE ANCIENT PUEBLOS. 



growth. This phase of decoration seems to be the prevailing one in 

 the earlier stages of Pueblo art. 



Second stage. — A second phase or stage is marked by the free introduc- 

 tion of ideographic devices of pictorial origin into decoration. These 

 are drawn, to a great extent, from that most prolific source of artistic 

 conceptions, mythology. This stage is the second in Pueblo art. The 

 period or stage of culture at which such elements are introduced varies 

 with different peoples. It is possible that ideographic and non-ideo- 

 graphic devices may enter art simultaneously. This is certainly to be 

 expected in the ceramic art, which comes into existence rather late in 

 the course of progress. 



Third stage. — In strong contrast with the preceding stages is the state 

 of modern Pueblo decoration. Contact with the whites has led to the 

 introduction of life forms and varied pictorial delineations. These condi- 

 tions belong to a stage in advance of the position reached in the natural 

 course of growth. Ideographic, non-ideographic, and purely pictorial 

 characters are combined in the most heterogeneous manner in the dec- 

 oration of a single vessel. The decorator has ceased to work under the 

 guidance of his instincts as a rule unerring, and now, like the mass ot 

 his more highly civilized brethren, he must grope in darkness until 

 culture shall come to his aid with canons of taste — the product of in- 

 tellect. 



Classification of ware. — In the treatment of this great group, or 

 rather collection of groups, of pottery a scheme of classification is the 

 first thing to be considered. In glancing over the field we notice that 

 a whitish ware, having a certain range of material, finish, form, and 

 decoration, is very widely distributed, that, in fact, it is found over 

 nearly the entire area known to have been occupied by the Pueblo 

 tribes. We find, however, that within this area there are varieties of 

 this particular group distinguished by more or less pronounced peculiari- 

 ties of color, form, and ornament, resulting from dissimilarity of environ- 

 ment rather than from differences in time, race, or method of construc- 

 tion. This group is associated, in nearly every locality, with the archaic 

 coiled ware, and together they are especially typical of the first great 

 period of Pueblo art. Its makers were the builders of the cliff dwell- 

 ings, of the round towers, and of countless stone pueblos. 



Distinct from the preceding, and apparently occupying an intermedi- 

 ate place in time and culture between the primitive and the recent wares, 

 we have a number of pretty well defined groups. At least two of these 

 are peculiar to the ancient province of Tusayan. The vessels of one of 

 these groups are noticeable for their rounded symmetrical bodies, their 

 finely textured paste, and their delicate creamy shades of color. The 

 designs are well executed and display unusual refinement of taste. 



Another, and probably the more important variety, is characterized, 

 first, by peculiarities of form, the body being doubly conical and the 

 bottom deeply indented; second, by richness of color, orange and yel- 



