A fine collection of earthen vessels was purchased for the Bureau from
Mr. J. T. Gouden, of Morrow, Ohio, through the agency of Dr. Wills De
Haas.
Few facts in regard to them have been furnished, excepting that they
were taken from graves in the vicinity of Charleston, Mo. They resemble
so closely the well-known types of Missouri pottery that it is safe to
conclude that they were obtained from ancient graves and mounds in the
locality named.
The numerous cuts accompanying this section are intended for subsequent
use in a general treatise on the works of the Moundbuilders.
[Illustration: Fig. 174.]
This ware is generally of the dark gray or black variety, handsmoothed,
or but slightly polished, and tempered with pulverized shells.
A few examples are yellowish-red in color. Some of these have been
painted red or have been ornamented with designs in red. In one case
white paint has been used.
The prevailing form is a bottle-shaped vessel, the neck being frequently
high and slender, and the body globular or subglobular. The base is
nearly always slightly flattened.
65556. An effigy vase of unusual form. The body is subrectangular.
The upper part or neck is lost, but has doubtless been modeled to
represent the human figure, as the feet remain attached to the
shoulder of the vessel. The color is yellowish gray. Diameter,
5 inches. Fig. 174.
[Illustration: Fig. 175.]
65603. An effigy vase of the dark ware. The body is globular. A kneeling
human figure forms the neck. The mouth of the vessel occurs at the
back of the head--a rule in this class of vessels. Is is finely made
and symmetrical. 9-3/4 inches high and 7 inches in diameter. Fig. 175.
65595. Effigy vase representing a kneeling or squatting human figure,
moderately well modeled. The exterior surface is painted red. Height,
7 inches; diameter, 5 inches. The locality is not known with
certainty.
65604-65607, 65611, 65612. Effigy vases of human figures. Sizes, medium
to small. The body below the waist is hemispherical, and the legs are
not indicated. Fig. 176.
[Illustration: Fig. 176.]
65597. Effigy vase, representing an owl. The body is globular. The wings
are indicated at the sides, and the legs and tail serve as a tripod
when the vessel is placed in an upright position. The head is quite
grotesque. This is a usual form in the Middle Mississippi district.
Height, 8 inches; width, 5-1/2 inches.
65608. Small example, resembling the preceding.
65601, 65596. Vases with globular bodies; the necks represent an owl's
head. Size, medium.
65605. A small vase similar to the above, but having a human head.
65558. A minute vessel modeled to represent a bird, the opening or mouth
being on the under side of the body; length, 2 inches. Fig. 177.
[Illustration: Fig. 177.]
65599, 65602, 65604, 65610. Bottle-shaped vases, with globular or
flattish bodies and grotesque tops. The rounded heads are armed with
a number of nodes or horns, but no features are shown. The largest is
7 inches in width by 7 in height. Fig. 178.
[Illustration: Fig. 178.]
65598. Similar vase of medium size. The top is modeled to represent the
curved stem and neck of a gourd. Fig. 179. Height 7 inches.
[Illustration: Fig. 179.]
65600. Vase similar to the above. The top representing a gourd with
short conical neck. Four lines are drawn from the stem down the sides
which represent the natural markings of the gourd. Height, 5-1/2
inches; diameter, 5-1/2 inches.
[Illustration: Fig. 180.]
65555. A two-storied vessel, the lower part being a cup of flattened
globular form. The upper part is similar in size and shape, but is
modeled to represent a univalve shell, the apex being represented by a
large node surrounded by six smaller nodes, and the base or spine by a
graceful extension of the rim. The groove or depression that encircles
the vessel between the upper and lower parts of the body is spanned by
two minute handles. Height, 5 inches; width, 4-1/2. Fig. 180.
[Illustration: Fig. 181.]
65543, 65551, 65552, 65554, 65573. Small bowls or cups, made in
imitation of shell vessels, the noded apex occurring at one side, and
the more or less pointed beak at the opposite side Fig. 181. Another
similar specimen with hemispherical body is given in Fig. 182. Length,
6 inches.
[Illustration: Fig. 182.]
65542, 65545, 65550. Small vases with wide mouths, the rim and shoulders
of which have the heads and extremities of frogs, modeled in relief.
Fig. 183. Diameter, 6 inches.
[Illustration: Fig. 183.]
65539, 65541, 65544, 65546. Low, wide-mouthed vases or bowls, modeled
about the rim to represent sunfish. A vertical view is given in
Fig. 184. 5 inches in length.
65579. A small bowl, the rim of which is embellished on one side with
the head of a panther, on the other side a flattish projection which
resembles a tail.
65580. A small bowl, having upon the rim a human head, the face of
which is turned inward. On the opposite side is the usual flattish
projection. Fig. 185. Diameter of bowl 5 inches.
[Illustration: Fig. 184.]
65578. Small bowl, the rim of which is embellished with the head of a
fox or wolf; at the opposite side is the usual tail.
[Illustration: Fig. 185.]
65576, 65577, 65581, 65585. Bowls of various sizes, the rims of which
are ornamented with the heads and tails of birds. No. 65576 is an
unusually fine example. Besides the features described it has been
farther embellished by four incised lines which encircle the rim,
forming a loop on the opposite sides as seen in Fig. 186. Bowl
9 inches in diameter.
65553. Small bowl, the rim of which has been embellished by four pairs
of nodes. Fig. 187. Diameter, 6 inches.
65547. A small globular cup of dark ware which has four large nodes
about the rim, Between these on the sides of the vessel, four
ornamental figures have been painted in red, these consist of an
inner circle occupied by a cross, and an exterior circle of rays or
scallops. Height, 2-1/2 inches; width, 3-1/2 inches.
The rim has been perforated for the purpose of suspension. Fig. 188.
[Illustration: Fig. 186.]
[Illustration: Fig. 187.]
[Illustration: Fig. 188.]
65487, 65512, 65514, 65519, 65521, 65523, 65525, 65531. Bottle-shaped
vases. The bodies are generally globular. A few are conical above,
while others are much compressed vertically. Some are slightly ridged
about the greatest circumference, while all are slightly flattened on
the bottom. The necks are slender and long, being about equal to the
body in height. They are generally narrowest in the middle, expanding
trumpet-like toward the mouth, and widening more or less abruptly
toward the shoulder below. In a few cases a ridge or collar encircles
the base of the neck. The exterior surface is generally quite smooth,
but never polished, although a polishing implement seems to have been
used.
The largest is 9 inches in height and 7 inches in diameter. No. 65501
has a very tasteful incised design, encircling the shoulder as shown in
Fig. 189. Diameter 6-1/2 inches.
[Illustration: Fig. 189.]
65520. Vase similar to the above in form, but with the addition of a
base or stand, 1 inch high and 3 inches in diameter at the base.
65486. Same, with the base divided into three parts, forming a kind of
tripod, the legs being flat. Fig. 190. Height, 9 inches.
65513, 65526, 65530, 65532, 65539. Bottle or jug shaped vases,
resembling the preceding, but having wide, short necks. Fig. 191
illustrates a typical form. Height, 4-1/4 inches.
65485. A vase similar to the above, but of yellowish gray ware,
decorated with a design in broad red and white lines. Height,
6 inches; width, 6 inches. Height of neck, 2 inches; width, 3 inches.
65538. Similar to the above in shape, but with flattish body, and
peculiar in having two small handles or ears at the base of the neck.
Fig. 192. Diameter, 5 inches.
65548, 65561, 65562, 65564, 65569. Small caps, with low, wide necks,
and globular or subglobular bodies, having two handles or ears which
connect the lip with the shoulder.
[Illustration: Fig. 190.]
[Illustration: Fig. 191.]
65572. A cup like the above, with four handles.
65563, 65565, 65568. Small cups similar to the preceding, but having a
variety of indented ornaments about the shoulder and upper part of the
body; these ornaments consist of wide vertical lines, or of encircling
scalloped lines. Figs. 193 and 194. Diameter of each, 4-1/2 inches.
[Illustration: Fig. 192.]
[Illustration: Fig. 193.]
[Illustration: Fig. 194.]
65570. Has six nodes about the circumference, and a scalloped figure of
three incised lines encircling the vessel above them. The handles have
oblique incised lines upon the outer surface.
65588, 65590. Bowls with scalloped rims. The largest is 9 inches in
diameter and 3 inches in height. Fig. 195.
[Illustration: Fig. 195.]
65574, 65575, 65586, 65587, 65591, 65593. Plain bowls, of various sizes,
and somewhat varied shapes. Figs. 196 and 197. Drawn one-half the real
size.
[Illustration: Fig. 196.]
[Illustration: Fig. 197.]