348 MOUNDVILLE REVISITED. 
of three fingers point downward in the upper spaces enclosed between these bands, 
while similar series point upward in the lower spaces. 
We know the ancient Mexicans! had six world-“ quarters” which, in addition 
to the four cardinal points, included “above” and * below " ; and that descendants 
of ancient Mexicans, the Huichol Indians,? have the six world-“ quarters” also, as 
do certain tribes of Pueblo Indians of southwestern United States, including the 
Hopi? and Zuni—as well as other Indian tribes.“ 
Doubtless the six world-* quarters" were recognized by the aboriginal occu- 
pants of the Moundville region, but whether they are represented on this vessel, 
the cross standing for the four directions (as it undoubtedly does), and the upturned 
fingers for “above” and the downturned ones for “ below," is another question. 
It is likely the fingers in the spaces are simply a duplication in the design—a 
method often followed in the decoration of ancient pottery. Moreover, there are 
vessels from Moundville on which fingers are shown, which do not seem to carry 
out the idea of the six world-“ quarters." А woodpecker design has downturned 
fingers in addition, but no upturned ones. Another vessel with a cross showing 
eight directions is without the upturned fingers, though the downturned ones are 
present. 
On the other hand there is a vessel (all we are referring to now we found on 
our first visit) with the design of the double-headed woodpecker, the heads point- 
ing in two directions, the tails in two other directions, thus making the cross of the 
four directions. Іп addition, series of fingers point upward and downward, thus 
indicating the six directions, although we may not accept the idea that it was the 
intention of the aborigines to do so. 
In a word, it may be that either the aborigines at the beginning intended to 
represent the six directions in the way we have described, and later made use of 
parts of the symbol for decorative purposes, or, on the other hand, they never 
intended to represent “above” and * below " by upturned and downturned fingers, 
and that when these are shown, they were borrowed merely to fill space in the 
design, and were taken from the cross of the four directions, which often, at 
Moundville, was made up of four series of three fingers each, pointing in different 
ways. 
The swastika was abundantly represented at Moundville; sometimes cut or 
repoussé in copper, sometimes engraved on earthenware; and doubtless the natives 
of the Moundville region often used this emblem embroidered on fabrics and 
painted on wood or on hide. Ranjel, DeSoto's secretary, tells how the great 
cacique of Tascaluca (Tuscaloosa), whose home was in the Moundville region, had 
before him always “ап Indian of graceful mien holding a parasol on a handle, 
, 
„› 
1“ Codex Vaticanus B." First half. Elucidated by Prof. Dr. Eduard Seler, pp. 67, 71, 242. 
ie * Dr. Carl Lumholtz, “Symbolism of the Huichol Indians,” Mem. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., Vol. 
‚р. 14. 
? Dr. J. Walter Fewkes, * Hopi Shrines near the East Mesa, Arizona," Amer. Anthropologist, 
A pril-June, 1906, p. 357. 
*“ Handbook of American Indians,” article “ Color Symbolism.” 
