MCOEEJ 



CLASSES OF ARTIFACTS 249* 



abuudant material; (3) that the great majority of the objects so em- 

 ployed are discarded after a use or two; (-1) that when the object 

 proves especially serviceable, and other couditious favor, it is retained 

 to meet later needs; (5) that the retained objects are gradually modi- 

 tied in form and surface by repeated use; (6) that if the modification 

 diminishes the serviceability of the object in the notion of the user 

 (e.g., by such fracture as to produce sharp edges), it is discarded; (7) 

 that if the modification enhances the serviceability of the specimen in 

 the mind of the user it ia the more sedulously preserved; and (8) that 

 through the instinctive desire for perservation, coupled with the thau- 

 maturgic cast of primitive thinking, the object acquires at once an 

 artificialized form and a fetishistic as well as a utilitarian function. 

 The significant feature of the development is the total absence of 

 foresight or design, save in so far as the concepts are fiducial rather 

 than technical or directly industrial. 



II. On reviewing the almost insignificantly small group of chipped 

 stone artifacts, it seems clear that while the material is local the 

 design is so incongruous with custom and characteristic thought as to 

 raise the presumption that stone-chipping is an alien and imperfectly 

 assimilated craft. The conspicuous and significant feature of the 

 chipped stone artifact is the shapement in accordance with precon- 

 ceived design. 



III. On reviewing the arbitrarily separated group of metallic arti- 

 facts it is found clear (1) that the material is foreign; (2) that it is 

 avidly sought and sedulously saved and utilized; (3) that it is wrought 

 only by the crude methods used for fashioning the most primitive of 

 implements and tools; and (4) that it is used chiefly as a substitute for 

 organic substances employed in symbolic imitation of the natural 

 organs and functions of animals. The significant features of the use of 

 iron artifacts are (a) the absence of eithet alien or specialized designs, 

 and [b) the mimicry of bestial characters as conceived in primitive 

 philosophy. 



Classed by material and motive jointly, the three groups are diverse 

 in important respects: The first is local in material, local in motive; 

 the second is local in material, foreign in design ; the thii'd is foreign 

 in material, local in motive. 



On recapitulating the several phases of Seri handicraft, the devices 

 are found to fall into genetic classes of such sort as to illumine certain 

 notable stages of primitive technic. 



The initial class comprises teeth, beaks and mandibles, claws, hoofs, 

 and horns, used in imitation or symbolic mimicry of either actual or 

 imputed function of animals, chiefly those to which the organs pertain, 

 together with vegetal spines and stalks or splints, used similarly under 

 the zootheistic imputation of animal powers to plants; also carapaces 

 and pelts, used as shields combining actual and symbolic protective 

 functions. While this class of devices is well displayed by the Seri, it 

 is by no means peculiar to them ; clear vestiges of the devices have 



