holmes] 



EARTHENWARE USED IN BURIAL 



39 



111 very many cases earthen vessels, especially bowls, are found 

 inverted over the skull of the deceased, as shown in tigure 11, and not 

 infrequently large fragments of earthenware 

 were placed over and around the head, prob- 

 ably as a protection. 



The commonest form of pot burial is 

 illustrated in figures 13, 13, 1-1, and 15. The 

 remains were crowded into the vessel and the 

 bowl was fitted over or into the mouth of 

 this receptacle. 



Perhaps the most general use of vases in 

 burial was that of containing food, drink, and 

 other olleriiigs intended In- friends of the de- 

 parted to serve some mythical post-mortem 

 purpose. That the deposition of these arti- 

 cles with the dead had, however, become a mere form or symbol in 

 many cases is shown bv the fact that the vessels were often broken and 



Fig. 15 — Earthemware burial 

 urn with bowl cover, Alabama 

 (Moore). 



Fig. 16 — Mortuary vases imitating the dead face, middle Mississippi valley. 



that fragments merely were sometimes used. In one section of the 

 Mississippi valley we find small mortuary receptacles made t(j repre- 



FlG. 17 — Toy-like vessels used as funeral offerings, Florida (ifoore). 



