THE SCARIFIED GROUP. 



99 



in the upper areas, where small groups of parallel incisions alternate with narrow 

 painted bands. The scarifications in the lower fields are the exact counterpart 

 of a geologist's drawing to represent cross-bedding in section. 



Some of the finest specimens of the scarified ware are reproduced in Plate XXVI. 

 The most remarkable member of the group is the large jar with flat bottom 

 and flaring rim (fig. a). Holmes figures a jar of somewhat similar make, but 

 smaller and less attractive in form and finish. The scarified zone reaches from 

 near the base to the neck, and therefore covers the surface of a truncated cone. 

 A careful study of the incised lines reveals the relative order in which they were 

 made. The circumferences at neck and base were first described. The twelve 

 groups of vertical lines, three in a group, followed and were drawn from neck 

 toward base. The twelve alternating, rather broad bands were then scarified 



Fig. 169. — Boat-shaped tripod with rim extended to a point at either end, each point being accompanied by 

 two nodes. Scarified ware. l h 



obliquely, the lines being drawn always from above downward — to the right in 

 one field and to the left in that adjoining. Many of the vertical lines are almost 

 as straight as if they had followed a ruler. But all the work is free-hand and 

 has the air of having been done by a skilled hand working rapidly. The entire 

 surface, both within and without, is painted. The jar is 26.5 centimeters high. 

 The walls at the rim are one centimeter thick and they grow gradually thicker 

 in the direction of the base, which is itself quite ample. Thus the vessel, though 

 empty, could be overturned with difficulty. Empty, it weighs 3000 grams, and 

 yet its capacity (sand) when filled to the brim is only 1810 cubic centimeters. 

 Its serviceableness as a containing vessel was relatively small. On the contrary, 

 it would hold weighty substances without danger of bursting and may have seen 

 service in that capacity. It does not seem to have been used over the fire, but 

 a majority of the vessels in the scarified group were so employed. 



The convex bottom of another vessel not supplied with legs is completely 

 covered with scarifications (fig. b). This is a two-storied vase. The upper story 

 being left without incisions while the lower is entirely covered by them, the 

 effect is the same as if a smaller bowl had been set into a larger one. It is always 

 desirable, therefore, that illustrations of such specimens should be labeled as 



