HOLMES.] POTTF.RY. 53 



utensils and of hammered objects of any kind strikes- me as bein^ 

 rather extraordinary, since it is popularly supposed that, in the nor- 

 mal succession of events, hammering should precede casting and that 

 utensils should be made Isefore elaborate ornaments. 



The work exhibits close analogies with that of the mainland of 

 South America, but these analogies appear to be in material, treat- 

 ment, and scope of employment rather than in the subject matter of 

 the conceptions. The personages and zoomorphic characters repre- 

 sented are characteristically Chiriquian, and were derived no doubt 

 from the mythology of the locality. These works affiliate with the 

 various works in stone and clay, the art products of the province 

 thus constituting a fairly homogeneous whole and being entirely free 

 from traces of European influence. 



Metals do not come into use early in the history of a race, as they 

 are not found in shapes or conditions suitable for immediate use, nor 

 are they sufficiently showy when found to be es]iiMially (lesiral)le for 

 ornaments. A long period must have elapsed lii-fuiv tlic use of metals 

 was discovered, and a longer period must have passed lieture they were 

 worked; and, in the light of our knoAvledge of the ancient tribes of 

 the United States, it woiild seem that a considerable degree of ciilture 

 may be achieved before the castiiiL;- of metals is understiMnl: but in 

 the ordinary course of in-o.nivss tlic discovery of methods of alloying 

 rare metals would be far separated from that of tlie simple fusing 

 and casting of a single metal, such as gold. The Chiriquian peoples 

 not only liad a knowledge of the methods of alloying gold with cop- 

 l)er, and. ai)i)areiitly. mpper with tin, but, if our data are correct, 

 they well' alilc to plate the liaser metals and alloys with sUed ^-old. 

 and, what is far more woiidertul. to wash them with gold, producing 

 an effect identical with that of our galvanic processes. 



The character of the conceptions embodied in the art unite with 

 evidences of technical skill to prove to us that American cidture, as 

 represented by the metal ornaments of Chiriqui, was not the product 

 of a day, but of long periods of experiment and progress. 



Preliminarii. — The importance of the potter's art to archaeology 

 has often lieen pointed out. Baked clay is one of the most enduring- 

 materials utilized in art, and its employment by the races of men has 

 fallen but little short of universal. The creations of that noblest of 

 arts, architecture, and the antecedent forms of house building are 

 necessarily left where erected, to be fed upon by the remorseless ele- 

 ments of nature, but the less pretentious utensil of clay accompanies 

 its owner to the tomb, where it remains practically unchanged for 

 ages. 



Many glimpses of tin; early history of the American races and of 



