ARCHyEOLOGICAL RESEARCHES IN NICARAGUA. 201 



ANTHROPOLOGY. 



ARCH^OLOGICAL RESEARCHES IN NICARAGUA. 



Number 383 of the Smithsonian Contributions is an important addition to 

 our knowledge of Ancient America, entitled " Archceological Researches in Nic- 

 aragua," by J. F. Bransford, M. D., Passed Assistant Surgeon. U. S. Navy. 

 Washington City: Published by the Smithsonian Institution, i88t." Dr. Brans- 

 ford made three journeys to Nicaragua; one in 1872, with Commander E. P. 

 Lull, a second iu 1876, when several months were spent in archaeological explor- 

 ations, and a third in 1877, at which time the author's investigations were ex- 

 tended to Nicoya, in Costa Rica. Exceptmg the last named excursions, all the 

 excavations were made on the Island of Ometepec, and to a slight extent near 

 San Jorge on the mainland. 



The geology and natural scenery of the island, the lake, and the surrounding 

 country, are so graphically described that the reader will have no trouble in fol- 

 lowing the narative and in catching the relation between the sites explored and 

 their environment. The hacienda of Don Jose Angel Luna having been placed 

 at the author's disposal in 1876, most of the work was done in that vicinity. To 

 reach the burial vessels it was necessary to dig down through a layer of light ash 

 and volcanic cinder, a second of old lava much decomposed, a third of gritty 

 ash, to the fourth, of black sand similar to that now forming the neighboring 

 beach. Pottery, beads, shells, human bones, etc., the necessary concomitants 

 of such a site, were found in abundance. The great interest of the exploration 

 however, and the raison d'etre of the book are the burial jars; some globose, oth- 

 ers with wide flaring mouths, but the greater number belonging to the unique 

 shoe-shaped burial urns of coarse red material, over the mouth of which were 

 placed delicate bowls of thin yellow ware elaborately painted. 



To the description of the covers which are called Luna ware, especially to 

 the elucidation of the designs upon the exterior and the interior surface. Dr. 

 Bransford gives the greatest attention. It is very much to be regretted that his 

 artist is so far behind him ; indeed, in a few instances, has omitted from the 

 drawing the very features alluded to in the text. It is a grave fault of nearly all 

 who attempt to illustrate savage technique that things are represented more regu- 

 lar and beautiful than they really are. In this instance, however, the picture 

 falls very far beneath the reality. The two plates of photolithographs at the end 

 are worse still, the objects seeming to be blurred and out of focus. 



On page 15 — 19 will be found a detailed list of the burial urns, giving their 

 shape, the width and depth of both jar and cap, and the position and the con- 

 tents of each. The author, after reviewing what has been said concerning the 

 origin of the shape of these unique objects, inclines strongly to the view that they 



