holmes.] POTTERY OF THE GULF PROVINCE. 431 



somewhat novel. Four large flattish lobes occur about the body, on 

 each of which a figure somewhat resembling a Ma If esc cross has been 

 made by incising or impressing broad, shallow lines. The remainder 

 of the body is covered with marks that resemble impressions of a coarse 

 osier basket. This specimen was collected by Mr. C. A. Dodge, and a 

 short description was published by Prof. W. H. Pratt in the third vol- 

 ume of the proceedings of the Davenport Academy. 



GULF PROVINCE. 



Our museums contain but few pieces of pottery from the Lower Mis- 

 sissippi, and in the Davenport Academy collection there are probably 

 not more than a dozen typical examples of the leading varieties of ware 

 of the Gulf States. Louisiana and Mississippi have furnished some 

 very fine specimens of the pottery of the middle province, more refined, 

 perhaps, in form, material, and finish than the ware of Arkansas and 

 Missouri, but still differing decidedly from the typical pottery of Ala- 

 bama and Georgia. Not wishing at present to enter upon the detailed 

 study of the latter class of ware, I shall present only the few examples 

 contained in the Davenport collection. The southern ware is charac- 

 terized by refinement of outline, color, finish and ornament, and is dis- 

 tinguished from that of the Middle Mississippi by its material, which is 

 a fine-grained paste, tempered with very fine silicious matter instead of 

 pulverized shells. 



The little cup given in Fig. 459 is from Mobile, Alabama. It is 

 pointed at opposite ends and was probably modeled after or within some 



Fig. 459. — Cup: Alabama. — §. * 



basket or fruit shell, the impressions from which are seen on the sur- 

 face. The paste contains no perceptible tempering material. 



The largest and most pleasing vessel of this class is from Alabama, 

 and is shown in Fig. 460. 



The aperture is ten and a half inches in diameter, and the height 

 nine and one-half inches. The form is full above and somewhat conical 

 below. The walls are thin and even and the surface well polished. 



The color is dark and shows the usual fire mottlings. There is no ad- 

 mixture of shell material, finely pulverized micaceous matter appear- 

 ing in its place. The ornamentation is simple, but is applied in a way 

 to greatly enhance the beauty of the vessel. It consists of a single 

 broad zone of incised figures. Three zigzag lines meander the middle 



