HOLMES.] MASK-LIKE GORGETS. 295 



taugular, the upper surface being pretty well rounded and ornamented 

 with a corona of incised lines, which are arranged in six groups of four 

 each. Inside of these a single incised line runs parallel with the edge, 

 from temple to temple. The eyes are represented by small circles with 

 small central ints, and the lids are indicated by long, pointed ellipses. 

 From each of the eyes a gi'oup of three zigzag lines extends downward 

 across the cheek, terminating near the edge of the plate, opposite the 

 mouth. These lines may be interpreted in two ways : First, if the ob- 

 ject is a mourning mask, made with especial reference to its use in 

 burial, they may signify tears, since, in the pictographic language of 

 many tribes, tears are represented by lines descending from the eyes, 

 and, with other nations, running water is symbolized by curved or zig- 

 zag lines; in the second place, these lines may represent figui'es jiainted 

 upon the face during the period of mourning, or thej' may simply rep- 

 resent the characteristic lines of the painting or tattooing of the clan or 

 tribe to which the deceased belonged. It is not at all improbable that 

 these objects were further embellished by painted designs which have 

 been obliterated. 



The nose is represented by a flat ridge, which terminates abruptly 

 below, the nostrils being indicated by two small excavations. The 

 mouth is represented by an oval node, in which a horizontal groove has 

 been made. 



The most elaborately engraved example of these masks yet brought 

 to the notice of the public is shown in Plate LXVIII. It was obtained 

 by Mr. Lucien Carr from a large mound, known as the Ely Mound, near 

 Rose Hill, Lee County, Virginia, and is described and illustrated by 

 that gentleman iu the tenth annual report of the Peabody Museum.' 

 Wishing to present this fine specimen to the best advantage possible, I 

 have had a large cut made from a photogi'aph furnished by Professor 

 Putnam, curator of the Peabody Museum. Parts of the design which 

 were obscure I have strengthened, following the guidance of such frag- 

 ments of lines as were still traceable, or by simply duplicating the lines 

 of the opposite side, as these designs are in all cases bi symmetrical. 



Having described a great number of relics exhumed fi'om this mound. 

 Ml-. Carr goes on to say " that the most interesting of the articles taken 

 from this grave was an engraved shell made from the most dilated por- 

 tion of the Stroinbiis gigas, and carved on the convex side into .the like- 

 ness of a buman face." It measures 138 millimeters in length, by 120 in 

 breadth. It is perforated with three holes, " the two upper of which are 

 surrounded with circles, and represent eyes ; between these is a raised 

 ridge of shell, in pLace of the nose, and below this is a third hole, 

 which is just above a series of lines that were probably intended as the 

 mouth. Four lines, parallel to each other dui-ing three-fourths of their 

 length, begin at the outer corner of the eye and are zigzaged to the 

 lower jaw, where they are drawn to a point. The concave side of the 

 ' Carr, iu Touth Auuual Report Peabody Museum, p. 87. 



