HOLMES] WHAT THE ART TEACHES. ' 45 



evinced even iu the meager vestiges brought to light by researches in 

 the mounds. Decorative borders and fanciful combinations of strands 

 are shown in some of the preceding cuts, and figure 2G, copied from a 

 pottery fragment obtained in the Ohio valley, indicates a more ambi- 

 tious attempt at emV)ellishmenf. The fabric was evidently of ornate 

 design and the execution excellent. 



Plate IX is intended to convey a clear notion of the nature and 

 appearance of fabric-marked pottery and of the manner of securing 

 positive impressions in clay. Three bits of pottery from Illinois are 

 placed at the left, and the three casts appear at the right. All illus- 

 trate open fabrics of comparatively simple pattern done in the charac- 

 teristic twined style. 



Nets were in use by the Indians of Florida and Virginia at the time 

 of the discovery, and the ancient pottery of the Atlantic states has 

 preserved impressions of innumerable specimens. The piece shown in 

 figure 27 is from a small fragment of pottery picked up in the District 

 of Columbia. The impression is so perfect that the twist of the cord 

 and the form of the knot may be seen with ease. Most of the examples 

 from this locality are of much finer cord and have a less open mesh than 



Fig. 28. — Net from ancient pottery, North Carolina. 



the specimen illustrated. The net illustrated in figure 28 is from a 

 specimen of North Carolina pottery. Netting of this class was still 

 in use among the natives of the Chesapeake region when the Engli.sh 

 colonies were founded. 



The lesson of the prehistoric; textile art of eastern United States 

 is simple and easily read, and goes far to round out the story of native 

 occupation and culture. Colonial records furnish definite knowledge 

 of the woven fabrics and weaving of the nations first encountered by 

 the whites. Graves, mounds, and caves give us an insight into tlie 

 pre-Columbian status of the art, and evidence furnished by associated 

 industries which happen to echo features of the textile art contribute 

 to our information. Charred cloths from the great mounds are 

 identical in material, combination of parts, and texture with the 



