300 ART IN SHELL OF THE ANCIENT AMERICANS. 



are now much decayed and battered. A cut with a brief description is 

 given by Mr. A. J. Conant in his recent worlj, "Foot-prints of Vanished 

 Eaces," page 95. My cut is made from a photograph obtained from 

 Professor Putnam, of the Peabody Museum. This is probably the same 

 photograph used by Mr. Conant. The engraved design is of a totally 

 distinct type from the last, and evinces a much higher grade of skill in 

 the artist. It is encircled by sis nearly parallel lines, which occupy 

 about half an inch of the border of the disk. Portions of these still re- 

 main, the inner one being nearly entire. Between this and the second 

 line are two perforations for suspension. The idea first suggested by a 

 glance at the engraved design is that it strongly resembles the work of 

 the ancient Mexicans, and the second idea of many archaeologists will 

 probably be that there may be a doubt of its genuineness. Setting this 

 question aside for the present, let us examine the engraving in detail. 

 Placing the plate so that the two perfoi'ations are at the left, we have 

 the principal figure in an upright posture. This figure apparently rep- 

 resents a personage of some importance, as he is decked from head to foot 

 with a profusion of ornaments and symbols. He is shown in profile 

 with the arms extended in action, and the feet separated as if in the act 

 of stepping forward. The head is large, occupying about one-third of 

 the height of the design. The elaborate head-dress tills the upper part 

 of the inclosed space, pendant idumes descend to the shoulders before 

 and behind, and circular ornaments are attached to the hair and the 

 ear. The conventionalized eye is lozenge or diamond shaped, with a 

 small conical pit for the pupil. 



The profile shows a full forehead, a strong nose, and a prominent 

 chin. Two lines extend across the cheek from the bridge of the nose 

 to the base of the ear. In and projecting from the mouth is a sym- 

 bolic figure, the meaning of which can only be conjectured. The 

 shoulders and body are but meagerly represented. From the waist a 

 peculiar apron-like object is suspended, which reaches to the knees; it 

 may be a part of the costume or a priestly symbol. The legs and feet 

 are dwarfed, but quite well outlined. There are encircling bands at the 

 knees and ankles, and a fau-like extension of the costume, somewhat 

 resembling the tail of a bird, descends between the legs. Attached 

 to the back, is a figure of a rather extraordinary character. Similar 

 figures may be seen in some of the Mexican paintings, and seem to 

 represent a contrivance for carrying burdens, in which at times elfish 

 figures are accommodated. The right arm is extended forward, and 

 the hand grasps a singular shaft, with which a blow is aimed at the 

 severed head of a victim, which is held face downward by the left 

 hand of the standing figure. The severed head still retains the plumed 

 cap, from which a long pendant descends in front of the face. The eye 

 is lozenge-shaped. A zigzag line crosses the cheek from the ear to 

 the bridge of the nose, and a curious symbolic figure is represented 



