30 ABliRIGINAL POTTERY OF EASTERN UNITED STATES [eth.ann.20 



Mr Sellers discovered a village or camp site in proximity to one of 

 these springs, and his observations with respect to it are as follows: 



I found the most abundant remains of pottery, not only represented by fragments 

 of the large, coarse salt pans, but by many pieces of small vessels of much finer tex- 

 ture and of superior workmanship, such as would be used for domestic purposes. 

 From these and large quantities of ehippings and offal I inferred that this was the 

 site of the old settlement. The broken pottery, the black soil, the waste from long 

 occupancy extending a considerable distance both east and west of the springs, and 

 to the foot of the bluffs on the south, covering an area of about 30 acres, were con- 

 firmatory of this view." 



A burial place was found on a terrace at no great distance. Some 

 of the stone cists were paved with fragments of the "great salt pans," 

 but these were much decayed. This, Mr Sellers believes, conclusively 

 couples the tenants of these ancient graves with the makers and the 

 users of the salt pans. 



In regard to the manufacture of these remarkable vessels it appears 

 that j\Ir Sellers's observations and theories are in the main correct. 

 That baskets were not used is apparent on the most casual examina- 

 tion. The manner of using the fabrics with ^vhich the ware is marked 

 is discussed in the present paper under the head Manufacture. 

 Mr Sellers's identification of the factory is also well supported, and 

 there is nothing improbable in the theory of the use of clay molds or 

 cores to model on. though there is little corroborative evidence on 

 this point. 



A remarkable example of this pottery recently found in the suburbs 

 of Nashville, Tennessee, is now in the collection of General Gates P. 

 Thruston, of Nashville. It is a flat-bottomed basin about 31 inches in 

 diameter and 12 inches deep; the walls are nearly an inch in thickness 

 and the surface has the characteristic fabric impressions (see plate iii <•). 

 A large fragment of this \'ase is illustrated in his work on the Anticpii- 

 tiesof Tennessee, plate x, and the following paragraph relating to it is 

 quoted therefrom: 



The large vessel was fuund within a few yards of the "'Sulphur Sjiring," or the old 

 "French Lick," at Nashville, in excavating for the foundations of the new spring- 

 house. This sulphur and salt spring was doubtless the central feature of a populous 

 aboriginal settlement for centuries. Extensive burial grounds were found on both 

 sides 1 if the "Lick Branch," and many fine imjilements and specimens of earthen- 

 ware have been obtained there. * 



In the discussion of stone gra\es in tht> vicinity of Nashville. Tennes- 

 .sce, Mr R. S. K<)))ertson makes the following remarks in regard to 

 fragments of salt vessels: 



These graves are found everywhere about Nashville and within the city limits. On 

 the ridges close to the Sul|)hur Spring the stones inclosing such graves may be seen 

 protruding from the ground, where the earth above has weathered off. Fragments 

 of potter)- abound, some of the common sort, and others very thick — about one-half 



" .Sellers. Aboriginal pottery of the salt springs, pp. .576-577. 



'•Thrnstoii, Gntvs 1'.. The anti(|Uitics of Tcnnessoc. riiicitinnti, isiiu, pji. 157-158. 



