ANCIENT ART OF THK PROVINCE OF CHIRIQUI. 



into the particular usrs of tlic vai-inus groups of vessels we are often 

 at a loss. Tlic iiKi.j<.ril> .-I tlir pirccs siiow no abrasion by handling 

 or discoloratiiiii hv fiiv or liy ((nitiMits. and I am inclined to believe 

 that a large portion were taken directly from the furnace and depos- 

 ited in the tombs. This implies manufacture for purely mortuary 

 purposes. 



Two important groups, the high ti-ipods and the two handled cups 

 or pots, are generally discolored by use over fire, but we cannot say 

 with confidence whether that use was a domestic one or whether it 

 was ceremonial. The small size and the elaborate modeling (jf a 

 majority of the pieces make it appear improbable that they were in- 

 tended for use in ordinary cooking or even in the preparation of 

 beverages. A few large plain caldrons are found, and these were 

 probably domestic rcci'iitacles. All things considered, it would seem 

 highly jirolialile tliat the greater portion of the \cssels exhumed from 

 the graves were intended to be used foi- i-eligious and mortuary pur- 



I 



poses. 



The preceding paragraphs refer, fen- the most part, to the wdiole 

 body of earthenware products, but throughout the rest of this sec- 

 tion I shall treat of vessels only, except in the matter of decoration, 

 which refers equally to all classes of objects. 



Forms of vessels. — Divesting the utensil of extraneous features, 

 such as rims, handles, and legs, we have the following series of 

 shapes, which shows a pretty full graduation of outline from ex- 

 treme to extreme. Beginning with the simplest fundamental form, 

 the shallow cup (Fig. 45, a), we ascend gradually to more complex 

 outlines, such as are seen in the hemispherical bowl (b), the deep basin 

 with slightly incurved rim (c), the globular form (d), and the elon- 



Fir,. 45. Fundamental forms of vases — convex outlines, 



gated form (e). Occasionally we see an eccentric variation, such as 

 is shown in /. Flat bottoms are unusual ; a conical base is the rule. 

 Outlines do not always exhibit these even, convex curves, but many 

 are straight or concave in profile, as shown in Fig. -tu. Complex 



