were all probably made by the “coil” process, which was still in use in the Mississippi valley after the advent of our people. Holmes states positively: “The wheel or lathe has not been used.”[85] The pottery of Chiriqui, a province near Panama, is remarkable for perfection of finish and execution and a similar suggestion of mechanical aids. In this case Holmes says: “Notwithstanding the fact that only primitive methods were known, The high-necked Moundbuilder bottle is rarely found in other parts of the United States, but it occurs in Mexico and in South America. Ladles, common in Pueblo ware, are of rare occurrence in that of the Moundbuilders, while rectangular box-like vessels are found, which, though rare, are of wide distribution. One remarkable object found in Tennessee is an earthenware burial casket formed of two parts, a body and a lid, and it still bears marks of the baking. It contains the remains of a small child, reduced to dust, except portions of the skull and limbs; and two or three dozen small shell beads. It weighs altogether 12¼ pounds. Another peculiar vessel was shaped like a shallow trough, with a flat lip or projection at each end. While there was undoubtedly in all tribes a certain progression of forms based on those of basketry, etc., as before noted, it must not be forgotten that there is a parallelism with wheel-made ware that cannot but strike the student with amazement. So great is the symmetry and so graceful are the shapes that one is led to suspect the employment of mechanical devices of a high order.”[86] [Illustration: BOTTLE-SHAPED VASE, ARKANSAS.] The high-necked Moundbuilder bottle is rarely found in other parts of the United States, but it occurs in Mexico and in South America. Ladles, common in Pueblo ware, are of rare occurrence in that of the Moundbuilders, while rectangular box-like vessels are found, which, though rare, are of wide distribution. One remarkable object found in Tennessee is an earthenware burial casket formed of two parts, a body and a lid, and it still bears marks of the baking. It contains the remains of a small child, reduced to dust, except portions of the skull and limbs; and two or three dozen small shell beads. It weighs altogether 12¼ pounds. Another peculiar vessel was shaped like a shallow trough, with a flat lip or projection at each end. While there was undoubtedly in all tribes a certain progression of forms based on those of basketry, etc., as before noted, it must not be forgotten that the Amerind, like all other human beings, did some things from pure inspiration or invention and with no previous model of any kind. [Illustration: EARTHEN WARE BURIAL CASKET, TENNESSEE.]