FEWKESl CULTURE AREAS IN THE WEST INDIES 67 



The extent of the Chip-chip mound could not be determined, as it 

 extends far into the cocoa plantation under a dense tropical growth. 

 Its surface, except where cleared by the Government for the erection 

 of buildings, was covered with vegetation. Some distance from the 

 hill, where a ceiba tree had fallen, the roots showed a considerable 

 deposit of shells, indicating that the extent of the heap was great 

 and furnishing a clew for continued excavations. 



The shells in the mound at Erin are in layers alternating with 

 vegetable mold, ashes, and soil, forming a sticky mass^" that clings 

 tenaciously to the specimens and almost conceals their identity. The 

 terra-cotta heads, when dug out of the earth, were completely coated 

 with mud, which had to be removed by washing, and by so doing 

 some of the red pigment which covered them disappeared. As the 

 ceramic objects had been painted after they were fired, the color is 

 not permanent, and the length of time they had been in the ground 

 caused it to come off even more readily. 



As mentioned, a vertical section of the mound exposed alternating 

 layers of shells and ashes, mingled in some cases with humus and 

 with frequent fragments of charred wood. Sometimes the strata 

 were composed entirely of shells, but their thickness was not uniform, 

 esisecially at the periphery of the mound. Over the entire surface 

 of the mound there was a dense growth of tropical vegetation, with 

 clearings at intervals for cocoa and plantains. The fallen trunks 

 of palms, live shrubs, and trees formed an almost impenetrable 

 jungle, extending into the neighboring forests where the ground had 

 not been cleared. On the sea side the mound is only a short distance 

 from the shore and is separated from the bay by a lagoon inclosed 

 by a narrow strip of land. Near by is a spring, from which the 

 shipmates of Columbus obtained drinking water in 1498. 



In their general character the objects found in the Chip-chip 

 mound are not unlike those occurring in other West Indian middens, 

 although they differ in special features. As is usually the case, the 

 majority of the specimens are fragments of pottery, which are among 

 the most instructive objects by which culture areas can be defined. 

 These will be considered first. 



POTTERT 



Comparatively little has beer published on the pottery of the 

 Lesser Antilles, although specimens of whole jars and innumerable 

 fragments are found in various museums and private collections. 

 The Heye Musuem is the richest in the world in these objects. The 

 potter's art was practiced by aboriginal people from Trinidad to 



"During the author's work in Trinidad it rained almost every day. 



