HOLMES] OBJECTS OF ART IN STONE. 21 



Pinart observes that in some cases the bodies or remnants of bodies 

 were distributed about the margin of the pit bottoiUj with the various 

 utensils in tlic ciMitcr, and a,i;ain that the remains were laid away in 

 niches diii;- in tlir sides n( tlit- main pit. 



These srattcring- iilisn-vatidiis will serve to give a general idea of 

 the modes of sepulture practiced in this region, but there must be a 

 closer record of localities and a careful coi'relation of the varying 

 phenomena of inluimation before either ethnology or archaeology can 

 be greatly bcnetited. 



PLACING OF RELICS. 



The pieces of pottery, implements, and ornaments were probably 

 buried with the deail. pi'etly uiiicli as a i-c similar nbjects in other parts 

 of America. The almost lotal (lisa|)|ieai-aiice ol' tlie lnuiuui remains 

 makes a determination ol' exart relative jiositions impossible. The 

 universal testimony, however, is that all were not placed with the 

 body, but that some were added as the grave was filled up, being placed 

 in the crevices of the walls or pillars or thrown in upon the accumu- 

 lating earth and pebbles of the surface pavement. The heavy im- 

 pleinents of stone are rarely very far beneath the siirface. 



OBJECTS OF ART. 



From the foregoing account it is ai)parent that onr knowledge of 

 the art of am-ient ('liii-iijui must for the present he d(ii\<'(| almost 

 entirely from the contents of the tombs. The inhabitants were skill- 

 ful in the employment and the manipulation of stone, clay, gold, and 

 copper; and the perfection of their work in these materials, taken in 

 connection with the construction of their remarkalde tombs, indi- 

 cates a culture of long standing and a capacity of no mean oider. 



Of their architecture, agriculture, or textile art we can learn little 

 or nothing. 



The relics rejjresented in the collection of the National Museum 

 consist chiefly of articles of stone, gold, copper, and clay. 



Works executed in stone, excluding the tombs, may be arranged 

 in the following classes: Pictured rocks, sculptured columns, images, 

 mealing stones, stools, celts, arrowpoints, spearpoints(?), polishing 

 stones, ami ornaments. 



Pictiircd rachs. — (^ur accounts of these objects are very meager. 

 The only one defiidtely described is the "piedra pintal." A few of 

 the figures engraved upon it are given by Seemann, from whom I 

 quote the following paragraph: 



' I am indebted to Mr. J. S. Diller, of the United States Greological Survey, for 

 the determination of tlie species of stone in this series of objects. 



