FEWKES] AKCHEOLOGICAL OBJECTS 167 



sugoest two highly conventionalized bodies, or the two sides of one 

 body split apart and extended, one on each side of the circle represent- 

 ing the head. In this interpretation the parallel marks near the head 

 would represent the fingers and the others the toes. The figure is in 

 a sitting posture, the knees drawn up to the breast. There is a close 

 similarity in the panel l)orders of specimens 1> and c. each having a head 

 with eyes and mouth, with extensions representing ears, one on each 

 side. The surfaces of the decorated panels in these two specimens are 

 differently ornamented, that of c having a likeness to that of plate 

 Lxvii, h and r. 



The object shown in «, plate lxix, is hypothetical, representing a 

 slender ovate collar with a stone head tied to the undecorated panel, 

 to illustrate the Acosta theory of the relationship of these two objects, 

 but the two specimens chosen for this purpose were found in different 

 localities in Porto Rico, and there is no probability that they ever be- 

 longed together. The collar has certain minor differences in compari- 

 son with tho e described in the preceding pages, more especially in the 

 character of the knob, and the interval between it and the undecorated 

 panel. It will be noted that the band is verj- obscurely indicated and 

 that there is a groove in the knob that extends parallel with the collar. 

 This groove may likewise be traced to the lower end of the undecorated 

 panel and its border. This differentiation of the portion of the collar 

 between the band and the panel, an exceptional feature, would appear 

 to support the theory that the collar represents the coiled bodj" of a 

 snake. 



THEORIES OF THE USE OF STONE COLLARS 



The following discussion of the purpose of the collars is reprinted 

 from the author's article on Porto Kican stone collars:" 



The theories * that have been advanced in explanation of the use of the 

 Porto Rican ring stones are almost as numerous as the wi'iters on the 

 subject, but unfortunately not one of the theorists has carried his 

 hypothesis far beyond a simule suggestion. It may be interesting to 

 mention a few of these theories, limiting the references to stone collars 

 found in the Antilles and waiving for the present a discussion of their 

 relationship to the stone yokes and collars of Mexico and Central 

 America, concei'ning which there is considerable literature. 



Mr Josiah Cato '' writes thus of one of these collars brought from 

 Porto Rico by Mr E. B. Webb: 



With regard to the probable use or purpose of these rings, I can give no informa- 

 tion, but shall be very much obliged for any suggestion or for hints as to anj- works 

 likely to contain such an account of the customs of the nations at the time of the 



a Smilfisonian Miscellaneous Collections. XLVii, 175. Washington. 1904. 



6 Acosta's theory that the three-pointed stone was united to the stone collar, forming a serpent idol, 

 is considered at the close of this section (page 170 et .seq). 

 c Proceedings of the Socielj/ of'-Antiiiuiiries, 2d ser., iv, no. 5, 215-210. 



