186 ANCIENT ART OF THE PROVINCE OF CHIRIQUI. 



occupied by a device liaviiig one or more features suggesting a pictorial 

 original and doubtless derived from one. In the main row there are 

 twelve figures, no two of which are identical. Although we are unable 

 to show that any of these characters had other than a purely decora- 

 tive use, we see how richly the ancient peoples were supplied, through 

 the conventionalizing agencies of the art, with devices that could 

 have been employed as ideograms and letters where such were needed, 

 and devices, too, that, from their derivation and use in the art, must 

 in most cases have had ideas associated with them. 



A brief summary of the more salient points of interest ilwelt upon 

 in this paper may very appropriately be given in this place. We 

 find that a limited area — a small and obscure province of the isth- 

 mian regirm — possesses a wonderful wealth of art prodiicts the char- 

 acter of which indicates a long period of occupation by peoples of 

 considerable culture. The art remains are perhaps as a whole infe- 

 I'ior to those of the districts to the north and south, but they possess 

 many features in common with the art of neighboring provinces. 

 There is, however, at the same time, a well marked individuality. 

 In conception and execution these works ai-c jjiirel y aboriginal, and, so 

 far as can be determined by the data at liainl.ari' |nf-('i>luniliian, and 

 po.ssibly to a great extent remotely pre-Culunibian. The discovery 

 of articles of bronze, which metal we cannot prove to be of indige- 

 nous production, is the only internal evidence pointing toward the 

 continuance of the a nrit'ut iqxich of culture into post-Columbian times. 

 The relics are ol)taiiicd Irdin tombs from which nearly all traces 

 of human remains liavi' <lisappcared. 



Art in stone covers the ground usually occupied by works in this 

 material in other Central American countries, save in the matter of • 

 architecture, of whirli art there are but niea-er traces. There are 

 rock iiiscriplioiis. statuettes and statues cjI latlier iinle character, 

 shapely nieaiiiig stones, elaborately carved seats or stools, many celts 

 oi extremely neat workmanship, spear and arrow points of unique 

 shape, and a very few beads and pendent ornaments. There are ap- 

 parently no traces of implements of war. 



In metal there are numerous and somewhat remarkable works. 

 They are of gold, gold-copper alloy, copper, and bronze. The objects 

 are of small size, rarely reaching a pound in weight, and they are 

 almost exclusively pendent ornaments. They were, for the most 

 part, cast in molds, and in nine cases out of ten represent animal forms. 

 A few bells are found, all of which are of bronze. Pieces formed of 

 alloyed metal are usually washed or plated with pure gold. 



The great body of relics are in clay, and the workmanshij) dis- 

 played is often admirable. Vases are found in great numbers, uiul 



