8(5 ABORiaiNAL POTTERY OF EASTERN UNITED STATES [eth.ann-.20 



sissippi valley peoples it was more prevalent, perhaps, than elsewhere. 

 Not only are manj^ animal forms recognizably represented, but a con- 

 sideraljle number of the grotesque shapes already referred to probably 

 originated in representation of animals. 



Ornament 



The ancient potter of tlie middle Mississippi galley pi'ovince gave 

 particular attention to the embellishment of his ware, and the results 

 are much more varied and mature than those of the nortliern and 

 ea.stern sections. Nearly all methods known in the countiy were 

 employed, but the higher types of linear and plastic design prevailed 

 much more fully here than elsewhere. 



The method of execution was usually b}' incision, a more or less 

 sharp point being used. Finger-nail marking and indentation with a 

 point wei'e favorite decorations, and ridges and nodes were set ou in 

 decorative arrangements. Decoration in color was common in this 

 province, though rare in others. The colors used in painting were 

 white, red, brown, and black, and generally consisted of clays, white 

 or tinted with iron oxides. Occasionally the colors used seem to have 

 been mere stains — possibly of vegetal origin. All were probaltly laid 

 on with coarse brushes of hair, feathers, or vegetal fiber. The 

 color designs are in most cases quite simple, and are applied in broad, 

 l)old lines. The figures are, to a great extent, curvilinear, and 

 embrace meanders, scrolls, circles, and combinations and groupings 

 of curved lines in great variety'. Rectilinear forms, lozenges, guil- 

 loches, zigzags, checkci's, crosses, and stellar forms are usual, and the 

 stepped figures so characteristic of Pueblo work are sometimes seen. 



The decided prevalence of curved forms is worthy of remark. 

 With all their fertility of in^'ention, the inhabitants of this valley seem 

 not to have achieved the rectangular linked meander, or anvthmo- 

 more nearlv approaching it than the current scroll or the angular 

 guilloche, while with other peoples, such as the Pueblos of the South- 

 west and the ancient nations of Mexico and Peru, it was a favorite 

 device. The reasons for this, as well as for other peculiarities of the 

 decorative art of the province as embodied in potter^-, must be sought 

 in the antecedent and coexistent arts of the province. These peoples 

 were probably not so highly accomplished in the textile arts as were 

 the Pueblos, and had not felt the influence of advanced architecture 

 as had the Mexicans. The practice of highly developed forms of 

 these arts gives rise to and encourages angular geometric styles of 

 decoration. 



Distinguishing C'iiaracteks of the (tkoup 



If askeil to point out the one feature of this ware by which it could 

 most readily be distinguished from ail otlier groups, I should select 



