The Prehistoric World; Or, Vanished RacesAllen, Emory Adams
History
The Prehistoric World; Or, Vanished Races
Allen, Emory Adams
Archaeology; Indians; Prehistoric peoples
Scholars have called attention to the fact that Humboldt
discovered in Mexico a small statue which he supposed represented
an Aztec priestess. This statue had sculptured upon its forehead
a row of pearls, worn in the same manner as is represented in
this pipe. This is another pipe of great interest, and is
supposed to represent the head of a woman. The countenance is
expressive, the eyes prominent, and the lips full and rounded. We
must notice again the headdress. While the faces are of Indian
type, the method of wearing the hair is different from that of
the typical Indian of the North.
Beaver.
The animal forms into which the pipe-bowls are carved, are also
full of interest. This is not so much on account of animal forms
themselves as the insight we gain as to the artistic skill of the
people who fashioned the pipes, and in various ways learn of bits
of customs and manners peculiar to them. Here we have figured a
pipe, the bowl of which is carved to represent a beaver. No one
need hesitate as to the animal which the carver had in mind. It
is represented in a characteristic attitude, and has the broad,
flat tail of its species. It must have required no little skill
and patient labor to work a rough stone into this finished pipe,
especially when we remember that the maker had no edged tools
with which to work.
Otter.
We can not always determine the animal which the artist had in
mind. In this illustration we have figured such a pipe.
Considerable discussion has arisen as to the animal represented.
Some cases of this nature have been thought to show either
migration from a distant country on the part of the maker or else
an extended system of trade.
Squier and Davis, who first figured it, supposed it to represent
a manatee, or sea-cow. This animal is essentially a tropical
species, the only known place where it was found in the United
States being Florida. From the presence of this carved specimen,
found a thousand miles to the north, some interesting queries, as
the origin of the mound-building tribes, and the state of life
among them, were raised. It is almost certain, however, that the
animal intended to be represented was the otter.92
Birds on Pipes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account