JHANCON] EXCAVATIONS IN THE CHAMA VALLEY 83 
PENDANTS 
Pendants were and are one of the favorite forms of personal orna- 
ments of the American Indian. The natural expression of some form 
of artifact as an adornment of the person took many forms, and the 
pendant worn at the neck or from the ears was one of the most promi- 
nent of these expressions. The pendants of Po-shu are varied and 
in some cases are very handsome. 
The two pieces lettered A, Plate 35, are unpierced pendants, the 
material used being selenite, which adapted itself very well to carving 
~ and shaping. The three pieces marked B, same plate, are also un- 
pierced pendants and are made of sandstone. 
That pendants of stone were sometimes painted after having been 
shaped and pierced is shown in the one marked C, Plate 35. This 
one was painted red on the front, the back being left the natural color 
of the sandstone of which it is made. It is pierced with three holes 
and is 24 mm. wide by 41 mm. long. 
A rather rough pendant is the one marked D, Plate 35. This is 
nothing more or less than a potsherd rubbed into the present shape 
and perforated with one hole. Pottery was often used for making 
pendants and many made of this material have been found. It is, 
however, remarkable that almost invariably the pendant is made of 
a sherd instead of being planned and made of the clay before it was 
baked. The excellent results obtained from the use of selenite or 
gypsum in the making of pendants is shown in Plate 35, EF, F, G. 
E is broken at the top but still shows three perforations. 
Our modern arts and crafts workmen could well afford to be preud 
of a product of their craft if they could turn out two as beautiful and 
exquisite pieces as those marked Fand G, Plate 35. Originally they 
must have been slightly translucent and for that reason alone the 
Indian would have treasured them. The form of Lis certainly derived 
from the Pectunculus shell. /'is 52 mm. long, 44 mm. at the widest 
part, and 13 mm. in thickness. @ is 56 mm. long, 47 mm. at the 
widest part, and 15 mm. thick. These two are the handsomest 
examples of selenite pendants that the author has ever seen. 
‘SHELLS 
That marine shells of the west coast were used extensively all over 
the Southwest is evidenced by their being found in many different 
ruins in the various parts of that region. It is more than probable 
that they were brought in by barter, although there are well-defined 
traditions among the Pueblos of a pilgrimage to the ‘“sky-blue 
water,” during which the participants made a ‘journey of death” 
over a great desert. It is also probable that if these journeys were 
really made, quantities of marine shells were brought back and dis- 
