ANCIENT POTTERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. 



By William H. Holmes. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



This paper is the third of a series of preliminary studies of aboriginal 

 ceramic art which are intended to be absorbed into a final work of a 

 comprehensive character. 



The groups of relics selected for these studies are in all cases of lim- 

 ited extent, aud are such as can lay claim to a considerable degree of 

 completeness. It is true that no series of archseologic objects can ever 

 be considered complete, but in exceptional cases the sources of supply 

 may be so thoroughly explored that the development of new features of 

 importance cannot reasonably be expected. If any series of American 

 ceramic products has reached such a condition, it is that of the middle 

 portions of the Mississippi Valley; yet, even in this case, I consider it 

 unwise to attempt a monographic study, and prefer to single out a par- 

 ticular collection, making it the subject of a thorough investigation. 



When the idea of preparing such a paper was first conceived, the col- 

 lection presenting the greatest advantages was that of the Academy of 

 Natural Sciences at Davenport, Iowa, which was, therefore, chosen. 

 Other museums, especially those at Cambridge, Saint Louis, and Wash- 

 ington, were rich in material from this region, but none of these collec- 

 tions were so homogeneous and satisfactory. 



The National Museum has recently received important accessions 

 from the Mississippi Valley, through the agency of the Bureau of Eth- 

 nology, and ere the publication of this paper will probably excel all 

 others iu the number and variety of its mound relics. Some of its ma- 

 terial has already been published by Dr. Charles Rau, Prof. C. C. Jones, 

 Dr. Joseph Jones, and myself, aud several additional examples are given 

 in this paper. 



Professor F. W. Putnam has described aud illustrated many pieces 

 belonging to the Peabody Museum, and Professor W. B. Potter and 

 Dr. Edward Evers have issued an important work on the Saint Louis 

 collections, in Contributions to the Arclmeology of Missouri. 



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