BULLETIN 



OF THE 



ESSEX; ZIsrSTITTJTE. 



Vol. 18. Salem: Oct., Nov., Dec, 1886. Nos. 10-11-12. 



CONVENTIONALISM 

 IN ANCIENT AMERICAN ART. 



BY F. W. PUTNAM. 



The study of the ceramic art of ancient America is 

 productive of much that is of importance in showing the 

 connections between the various peoples who have iiihab- 

 ited the coimtry in past tinies, their points of contact, and 

 the routes of their migrations. It also enables us to trace 

 the development of that innate principle of the human 

 mind which among all nations finds its varied expression in 

 Ornament and art. There is now sufficient evidence to show 

 that the artistic powers of man, like the languages, were 

 developed in distinct centres, from primitive forms of ex- 

 pression which, necessarily, had principles in common. 

 This will, probably, account for the dose resemblances 

 which occur in the early expression s of art in different and 

 widely separated centres, and the resultant cosmopolitan 

 forms of various objects. Thus it is that we find in the 

 lower Stratum of human development many cooking ves- 

 sels, water jars, dishes and other Utensils made of clay, 



ESSEX INST. BULLETIN, VOL. XVin. 20 (155) , 



