224 
CERTAIN ABORIGINAL REMAINS, BLACK WARRIOR RIVER. 
Fra. 143.— Vessel No. 1. 
Ridge north of Mound R. (Height 5.75 inches.) 
the orbits, but part of the lower jaw is incorrectly placed, being portrayed as ex- 
tending beyond the occipital part of the skull. 
While it is possible that this anatomically incorrect representation of the lower 
jaw arose through ignorance, it should be remembered that the aborigines of Mound- 
ville were very familiar with the human skeleton, lying exposed, as it did, in the 
dead-houses and later being a center of interest during the performance of funeral 
rites. 
Possibly the lower jaw was accentuated by the artists of Moundville because 
of its being regarded as a symbol of importance, as it was by the Mexicans, and 
perhaps this consensus of opinion arose through “ parallelism of thought." 
On the other hand, it seems likely enough that the people of Moundville, to 
