74 



A STUDY OF CHIRIQUIAN ANTIQUITIES. 



the handled group that is painted. The paste used in its manufacture may be 

 either coarse grained or fine grained, but is always tenacious. The exterior of 

 nearly every piece is blackened by smoke and soot. The vessels were not sus- 

 pended over the fire, the convex bottom over a considerable area being generally 

 not discolored, as if it had rested on ashes or sand while the fire burned on all sides. 



The vessel illustrated in figure 119 is coated with smoke, soot and grease, in- 

 side and out, which may account for its remaining absolutely impervious to water 

 after a test of twenty hours' duration. Life symbols adorn the otherwise plain 

 vertical handles, and the shoulder is ornamented with four neatly incised, X-shaped 

 patterns, two on either side. This vessel has a capacity of 575 cubic centimeters. 

 Another type of handle, one characteristic of the painted handled ware, is shown 

 in figure 120. It consists of a loop horizontally applied to the shoulder. Two 

 plain nodes for eyes or ears indicate a life form. 



A series typical of those that are related to the armadillo ware may be seen 

 in Plate XVIII, and appropriately enough each example is ornamented with arma- 

 dillo motives. The paired handles in figure a form raised horizontal loops, fitting 

 close against the neck of the vase. By the application of nodes and fillets the 



Fig. 119. — Vase bearing life symbols 

 on handles and incised X-shaped or- 

 namentations on shoulder. Unpainted 

 handled ware. '/» 



Fig. 120. — Vase .with horizontally placed 

 handles representing animal forms. Un- 

 painted handled ware. V" 



handle is transformed into the head, shoulders and forelegs of the armadillo. To 

 make sure of its identity, the carapace symbol is freely used. 



Figure b shows a similar arrangement, except that the nose is wanting. The 

 handle is reduced to a mere knob in figure c, but the eyes above and the carapace 

 symbol at the base suffice to convey the idea intended. In other words, it shows 

 a ventrally placed carapace symbol resembling those in figures 82 and 83. In 

 figure d the horizontal loop handle is reduced in size and somewhat removed 

 from the neck of the vessel. Carapace symbols ornament its summit and bases. 

 The same is true of figure e, except that three single fillets are used instead of 

 three pairs, the handles being also reduced in size and changed so as to occupy 

 a vertical position. In figure / the vertical handles unite shoulder and rim. They 

 are simply plastered over with carapace symbols. Two perforated nodes near 

 the top represent the eyes. On the opposite handle, a median hole just below 

 the eyes may be intended for a mouth or nose. 



The remaining vessels of the unpainted handled group are related rather to the 



