THE ARCHAIC HORIZON 55 



fertility and used them as amulets to secure good 

 crops. The male figurines may have beeD votive offer- 

 gg for success at anus. 



Archaic Pottery. The ordinary pottery of the 



Archaic Period from Mexico and Central America is 

 heavy and simple in shape. The globular howl with a 

 constricted neck is a common form as well as wide- 

 mouthed howls with or without tripod supports. Lugs 

 and handles are very common. When plain, the tripods 



Fig. 17. Typical Tripod Vessels ofthe Archaic Period, from Morel b, 

 Mexico. 



arc large, hollow and rounded, with a perforation on the 

 under side, but they are often modified into faces and 

 feet. Many vessels are decorated by the addition of 

 modeled faces enabling us to make a direct connection 

 with the figures in clay already described. 



In fact the decoration of pottery of this early period 

 is predominantly in relief. Paint is sparingly used and 

 then only in the simplest geometric fashion. There is 

 a general lack of conventionalized motives presenting 

 animals and other natural forms in highly modified 

 ways. In later ages the painted decoration is much 

 concerned with the serpent, but except for a tew wind- 

 in": serpents in relief, this motive is not seen on the 

 pottery of the Archaic Period. 



Stone Sculptures of the Archaic Period. The 

 earliest .-tone sculptures are recognized first by resem- 

 blance to the ceramic art just described and Becond by a 



