620 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHKOLOGY [Bull. 137 



Other decorated objects from the same site are described as follows 

 with typically Cushingesque interpretations of the significance of 

 certain of them : 



That these curious tablets (as above) were symbolical — even if designed for 

 attachment to other more utilitarian things — was indicated by the fact that 

 ■various similar objects, too small for use otherwise than as batons or amulets, 

 were found. Several of these were of wood, but one of them was of fine- 

 grained stone . . . and all were exquisitely finished. Those of wood were not 

 more than eight inches in length by three inches in width ; and they were most 

 elaborately decorated by incised circles or lenticular designs on the upper con- 

 vex sides — still more clearly representing eyes — and by zigzag lines around the 

 upper margins as clearly representing mouths, teeth, etc., and on the same side 

 of the lower portions or bodies, by either triangular or concentric circular 

 figures ; while on the obverse or flat side of one of them was beautifully incised 

 and painted the figure of a Wheeling Dolphin or Porpoise, one of the most 

 perfect drawings in the collection. The little object in stone . . . was only 

 two inches in length by a little more than an inch in width. It was wrought 

 from very fine dioritic stone, and as may be seen by the illustration was so 

 decorated with incised lines as to generally resemble the comparatively gigantic 

 wooden object of the same general kind shown above it. The very slight tenon- 

 like projection at the lower end of it was, however, grooved, as if for attach- 

 ment by a cord. Plainly, therefore, it was designed for suspension, and no 

 doubt constituted an amulet representative of the larger kind of object. The 

 moderately small, highly finished wooden figures of this kind, seemed also to 

 have been used more as portable paraphernalia — as batons or badges in dramatic 

 or dance ceremonies perhaps — than for permanent setting up or attachment. 

 That this may have been the case was indicated by the finding of a "head- 

 tablet" of the kind. It was fifteen inches in length by about eight inches in 

 width, although wider at the somewhat rounded top than at the bottom. On 

 the flatter, or what I have called the under, side of the lower portion or end, 

 this tablet was hollowed to exactly fit the forehead, or back of the head, while 

 on the more convex side, it was figured by means of painted lines, almost pre- 

 cisely as were the upper surfaces of the small wooden batons or miniature 

 carved tablets. My conclusion relative to its character as a "head-tablet" was 

 based, not only upon the fact that it was thus hollowed as though to fit the 

 head, but also upon the comparison of its general outlines and those repre- 

 sented on its painted surface, with the outlines and delineations on certain 

 objects represented on the head-dresses of human figures etched on shell gorgets 

 found in the ancient mounds of the Mississippi Valley. . . . 



In addition to the head tablet I have spoken of, various thin, painted slats 

 of wood were found in two or three places. They were so related to one 

 another in each case, that it was evident they had also formed portions of 

 ceremonial head-dresses, for they had been arranged fan-wise as shown by 

 cordage, traces of which could still be seen at their bases. Besides these, 

 other slats and parts of other kinds of head-dresses, bark tassels, wands — one 

 in the form of a beautifully shaped spear, and others in the form of staffs — 

 were found; many of them plainly indicating the practice of mimetically 

 reproducing useful forms, and especially weapons, for ceremonial appliance. 



Perhaps the most significant object of a sacred or ceremonial nature, how- 

 ever, was a thin board of yellowish wood, a little more than sixteen inches 

 in length by eight and a half inches in width, which I found slantingly upward 

 near the central western shell-bench (Section 22). On slowly removing the 



