in many eases, unevenly baked. 



The pottery with few exceptions is quite thin, averaging 6 mm. in thickness ; 

 the surfaces are in many. cases smooth. The rims of the vessels are either 

 straight, undulating, notched, or projecting at intervals into points, or into 

 variously formed knobs. 



In some cases loops take the place of knobs. The borders of the vessels are 

 often ribbed within, and sometimes marked with one or more parallel lines out- 

 side, the lines often enclosing a row of rude dots. 



The lines marking the surfaces of the vessels are either roughly incised in wet 

 clay, or smoothed out of wet clay, or carved iu dry clay before baking. 



The designs are infinitely varied ; generally areas partially or wholly enclosed 

 by curved lines, the area within or without the lines being cord marked, the 

 other area being smooth. Deep pits or grooves often join the areas, and these 

 may be repeated in regular succession round the vessel. 



A common mode of ornamentation is a band of oblique lines running in one 

 direction round the vessel, followed by a band of oblique lines running in an 

 opposite direction. Somtimes these lines ctcss each other. 



In nianj r cases wreaths of clay, pinched into scallops by the fingers, border 

 the vessel in one or more bauds, either straight or undulating. These wreaths 

 frequently separate from the vessel, showing that the}- were put on after; the ves- 

 sel was made. 



Dr. Wilson in his work on Pre-IIistoric Man has mentioned, the absence of 

 imitative figures in the pre-historic pottery of Europe. He says ; " In no single 

 case is any attempt made to imitate leaf or flower, .bird, beast or any natural 

 object." His words would apply with equal truth to the Omori pottery for in no 

 case can any form or design be construed into representing an}' natural object. 



More curious still is the absence of legs or knobs of any description for the 

 support of the vessel from below. A feature so common iu the ancient pottery of 

 Peru and Central America, is entirely absent in the ancient pottery of Omori. 



On the contrary the Omori pottery presents knobs and loops of an infinity 

 of form projecting from the rim of the vessel. In this respect the Omori pottery 

 resembles the pre-historic pottery from Brazil and Porto Pico, though these forms 

 often represent the heads of animals. 



Some of the knobs from the shell mounds of the Amazon discovered by Prof. 

 Hartt bear a remarkable resemblance to the commonest types of knobs from 

 Omori. 



The earthen vessels may be grouped as follows : — 



Cooking vessels answering to pots, stewpans, etc. Hand vessels such as bowls 

 and cups. Vessels with constricted necks, used as water bottles, possibly, and 

 a few vessels of various forms which may be designated as ornamental jars and 

 bowls. 



The cooking vessels are of the following kinds : Deep vessels with slightly bulg- 



