ART IN SHELL OF THE ANCIENT AMERICANS. 



By William H. Holmes. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



The student will find scattered throughout a wide rauge of archEeologic 

 literature frequent but casual mention of works of art in shell. Indi- 

 vidual uses of shell have been dwelt upon at considerable length by a 

 few authors, but up to this time no one has undertaken the task of 

 bringing together in one view the works of primitive man in this ma- 

 terial. 



Works of ancient peoples in stone, clay, and bronze, in all countries, 

 have been pretty thoroughly studied, described, and illustrated. 



Stone would seem to have the widest range, as it is employed with 

 almost equal readiness in all the arts. 



Clay is widely used and takes a foremost place in works of utility 

 and taste. 



Metals are too intractable to be readily employed by primitive peo- 

 ples, and until a high grade of culture is attained are but little used. 



Animal substances of compact character, such as bone, horn, ivory, 

 and shell, are also restricted in their use, and the more destructible sub- 

 stances, both animal and vegetable, however extensively employed, have 

 comparatively little archreologic importance. 



All materials, however, are made subservient to man and in one way 

 or another become the agents of culture; under the magic influence of 

 his genius they are moulded into new forms which remain after his dis- 

 appearance as the only records of his existence. 



Each material, in the form of convenient natural objects, is applied 

 to such uses as it is by nature best fitted, and when artificial modifica- 

 tions are finally made, they follow the suggestions of nature, improve- 

 ments being carried forward in lines harmonious with the initiatory 

 steps of nature. 



Had the materials placed at the disposal of primitive peoples been 

 as uniform as are their wants and capacities, there would have been 

 but little variation in the art products of the world ; but the utilization 

 of a particular material in the natural state gives a strong bias to artificial 

 products, and its forms and functions impress themselves upon art pro- 

 ducts in other materials. Thus unusual resources engender unique arts 



1.S5 



