42 



A STUDY OF CIIIKIQUIAN ANTIQUITIES. 



prominent beak is in low relief and reaches well down on the breast. The eyes 

 are scarcely visible — two little shallow depressions sunk by boring. Above are 

 the two ear-tufts so characteristic of the gold and clay parrots described in other 

 chapters. If this resembles the stone amulets from Nicoya, it also suggests the 

 gold amulets ofChiriqui, and may not be an importation. The surface is every- 

 where highly polished except at the edge. 



Another ornithomorphic amulet, but not celt-shaped, is given in figure 49. The 

 beak is long, straight and hooked at the end — evidently that of the parrot. The 



Fig. 49.— Ornithomorphic amulet of green translucent jade. '/' Fig. 50.— Zoomorphic amulet of agate. 3 /' 



head and body combined are not so long as the beak, although more massive. 

 In the place of ear-tufts, there is a prominence at the base of the beak. The 

 region of the neck is indicated by a peripheral incision, at the level of which is 

 placed the hole for suspension. The base of the tail is marked by a horizontal 

 incised line across the back. The feet and toes project very little beyond the 

 contour line of the body and resemble very closely the feet of the well-known gold 

 parrots. In fact, the entire figure seems to have been inspired by the work of the 

 Chiriquian goldsmith. On the other hand, it is so different from the bird forms among 

 the amulets found at Las Guacas that to assume it to be of Nicoyan origin would be 

 hazardous. The specimen is of the finest quality of 

 green translucent jade and in perfect condition. 



The abundance of jade ornaments found at Las 

 Guacas, together with "worked blocks of the crude 

 stone," leads Hartman to conclude that the amulets 

 were manufactured there and that a mine of the 

 mineral may yet be discovered in the neighborhood. 

 It is highly probable, therefore, that there was a com- 

 mon source of jade supply for the regions in question, 

 and that it was in Costa Rica. 



Figure 50 represents a zoomorphic amulet in a 

 simple yet effective manner. It is a slab from an 

 agate pebble. Shallow notches cut out of the periph- 

 ery leave muzzle, forelegs and hindlegs, respect- 

 ively ; while the entire dorsal contour, from the back 

 of the head to the tip of the tail, is produced by 

 Fig. 5 1 -Amulet made from a shark's means f a i arffe boring; near the upper margin. Both 



tooth ; from Divala. (Lamson " & . 



collection) '/■ forefeet are perforated for suspension. 



