HOLMES ANNIVERSARY VOLUME 



this type in private collections in Salvador. His description of the 

 character of this ware is interesting and suggestive: 



Without regard to the character of the decoration it may be classified at 

 once by a semi-vitreous glaze. The ware is hard, thin, and fine-grained. The 

 surface has a slight but unmistakable gloss, varying in hue from dull green to 

 dull orange. The greenish variety predominates and it is likely that the orange- 

 colored specimens were subjected to a reducing flame. In no one of the many 

 examples that have come to the attention of the writer does the surface appear to 

 have become actually liquid. Instead a slight suffusion seems to have taken place 

 when the pottery was being fired. This may have been due to the presence of 

 lead in the clay. . . . The suffused surface of this ware would not carry sizing 

 or painted designs and as a result we find the ware decorated, first, by incised 

 designs, second, by plastic designs. (Pages 470-471.) 



Regarding Spinden's system of classification of this "glazed 

 ware" in Salvador as belonging to his "Post-Maya" period, we must 

 differ. He states that "there is good evidence that the great Maya 

 cities of the south were abandoned soon after 600 a.d. and that the 

 Maya tribe proper moved northward toward central and northern 

 Yucatan. This left Salvador free from the pressure of Maya culture. 

 The rise of the Toltec civilization in Mexico gave a new source of 

 inspiration and influence." He further remarks that "although the 

 finest examples of this ware probably antedate the Spanish epoch by 

 several centuries, still it is worthy of note that the same greenish 

 and semi-vitreous surface is seen on post-Spanish products." 



This late origin for the "glazed ware" in Copan is of course 

 impossible if the generalization of Spinden regarding the abandon- 

 ment of the Maya cities about 600 a.d. is correct. The pieces found 

 by the writer in the Copan tomb, with the carved peccary skull and 

 the painted vessels, must be attributed to the best period of Copan 

 development. In this case, at least, the ware is of respectable anti- 

 quity, so far as remoteness from the Spanish period of occupancy is 

 concerned. We have never seen any specimens that in any way are to 

 be regarded as resembling a Spanish type of decoration. 



The writer is of the opinion that the ware should be considered as 

 the product of some local tribe or clan which developed this particu- 

 lar type of ceramic art. Whether the place of origin is Salvador or 

 Guatemala is at present undetermined, but future research in this 

 important part of Central America should elucidate the problem. 



During the summer of 19 15 the writer was engaged in an arch- 

 eological reconnoissance in the Department of Cortes, Honduras, for 

 the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation, during which 

 he was able to bring together an interesting collection from the region 

 of the valleys of the Ulua and Chamelicon rivers, supplemented by 



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