The Archaeology of the Yakima Valley

by Harlan Ingersoll Smith

Fig. 117 (202-8193). Incised Designs on Dentalium Shells. From under the skeleton in grave No. 25 of a child in a stone cyst in dome of volcanic ash near Tampico. Nat. size.
Fig. 118 (202-8178). Incised Designs on Dentalium Shells. From among broken and charred human bones of about twelve individuals in cremation circle No. 15 (10) on terrace northwest of the junction of the Naches and Yakima Rivers.

Incised designs on dentalium shells are shown in Figs. [117] and [118]. The first four were found under the skeleton in grave No. 25. This skeleton was of a child and was surrounded by a stone cyst buried in a dome of volcanic ash near Tampico, as shown in [Plate X]. This lot contained two shells ornamented with designs of the type shown in a, but in the one not figured the diamond points met and formed a checker pattern. There were four of the type shown in b, one of the type shown in c, and two like the type shown in d. The specimens shown in [Fig. 118] were found among broken and charred human bones of about twelve individuals in cremation circle No. 15 (10) on the terrace northwest of the mouth of the Naches River. While there was only one specimen of the type shown in a, there were two of the type shown in b, and one like the four represented by [Fig. 117b]. Another cremation circle containing incised dentalium shells is known as No. 18 (13) and was located on the same terrace. The specimens are mere fragments, one of them, from the tip of the shell, bears a design similar to that shown in [Fig. 117b], the other bears a simple incised spiral, the space between one incision and another being about equal to the width of the incision itself. The character of both the technique and the motive of these designs resembles that of those found on similar shells at Kamloops in the Thompson River region[387] and in the Nez Perce area to the east.[388] The design shown in [Fig. 117a] at least reminds us of paintings on the parfleches found among the modern Sahaptin and Plains tribes.

Fig. 119. Incised Pendant made of Steatite with Red Paint (Mercury) in some of the Holes and Lines. From manubrium of adult male skeleton in grave covered with rocks on a low ridge about two and a half miles south of Fort Simcoe. Nat. size. (Original in the collection of Mrs. Lynch.)

The incised design on the pendant made of steatite ([p. 94], [Fig. 119]) does not seem to differ greatly in technique or motive from other incised designs found in this area and in the Thompson River region to the north. While most of the lines and pits can be considered as forming symmetrical or geometric designs, the central figure on the side shown in [Fig. 119b] may be interpreted as a conventional representation of a life form, namely, a fish. Red paint is rubbed into some of the lines and pits.

The human figure described under costume ([p. 100], [Fig. 121]) is a somewhat conventionalized realistic form indicated by incisions on one surface of a piece of antler 2 to 5 mm. thick.[389] It was found in the grave of an infant under the vertebrae, No. 25 in a dome of volcanic ash. It is of good technique and artistic execution. The eyes are of the shape of a parallelogram with rounded corners. These, with similarly shaped figures on the headdress or inner hair-rolls, and on the hands, knees, and insteps, slightly resemble a motive common in the art of the coast to the northwest. The crescent-shaped mouth and thick lips are indicated by incised lines, while the cheeks are full, and the entire head is somewhat set out in relief from the rest of the object. The radiating figures above the head do not represent feathers in a realistic way, but closely resemble the conventional paintings made by the Dakota on buffalo robes. These paintings have been called sun symbols, but are interpreted by the Dakota as the feathers of a war-bonnet or other headdress. The fingers and thumb are set off from the palm by two lines, which, with the mark at the wrist, make a figure resembling the eye-form so common in Northwest coast art. The concentric design on the knees is probably related to the wheel, sun, or spider-web pattern common as a symbol on the shirts, blankets, and tents of some Plains tribes. The feet jutting out at the sides are slightly wider than the legs. The inside of the foot is straight with the inside of the leg, while the outer part is curved. The two, taken together with the lower portion of the legs, resemble a divided hoof. The divided hoof is a common design among Plains tribes.

There are only two specimens, of which I am aware, that resemble this. One (T-22107, 177 II) consists of seven fragments of a thin piece of antler found by Mrs. James Terry at Umatilla, Oregon, only about 83 miles in a southerly direction from Tampico. The back of this specimen is largely disintegrated, except on the two dog heads, and these being only about 5 mm. thick suggest that the whole figure was thin. The carving ([Fig. 123]) is in much greater relief than in the specimen from Tampico, although some of the lines are merely incisions. The tongue projects between, but not beyond, the lips. The cheeks are raised and there is considerable character to the face. The nose is aquiline and narrow, but the alæ are indicated. The orbits are sunken and horizontal oblong pits evidently indicate the eyes. The eyebrows are raised. Two horizontal incisions extend across the brow. Below the chin, at the left, are four incisions in a raised piece. This seems to represent a hand held with the fingers to the neck. A similar hand was probably at the right. A foot, with four toes in relief projecting above the brow as high as do the eyebrows, rests immediately above the upper horizontal incision and apparently indicates that some animal, possibly a bird, stood upon the human head. The fragment, however, is not sufficiently large to settle these points. Two of the other fragments are apparently intended to represent the heads of dogs. The eyes are indicated by the common circle and dot design; while the nostrils in one are represented by drilled dots. The shape of the heads is brought out by the carving of the edge of the object. The fragments are broken off at the neck, and the lower side of each shows the finished surface of the back of the object. The remaining fragments show little or nothing. The animal heads and the feet and hands suggest the possibility that in some cases animal forms were combined in such figures, as on the Northwest Coast, although the general style of art of the object is like neither Haida nor Kwakiutl work, but more like the carvings of Puget Sound and the lower Columbia River. The fact that the carving of this face is more in relief helps to explain the intent of the author of the Tampico specimen.

The other specimen (50-3110 a, b, c) is a quill-flattener, made of antler ([Fig. 122]). It was obtained by Dr. Clark Wissler from the Dakota at Pine Ridge, South Dakota, who also made reference to other objects of the same sort among the tribe. Porcupine quills were flattened on it with the thumb nail until after it had been broken, when the lower or pointed end had been used as a brush in applying color to form designs on various articles made of buckskin. This end is stained a deep red and the point is much worn. The object, in general, resembles in shape and size the specimen from Tampico. Its sides are somewhat thinner and sharper. The slight indications of hair or headdress, the deeply cut eyes and mouth in the concave side, the holes or ears at the sides of the head, and the method [of] indicating the arms by slits, setting them off, from the body, are all details which emphasize this general resemblance. The technical work is about as good as that of the Tampico specimen, but the art work is inferior. One edge of the convex or outer surface of the bone has twenty-five notches, and in each tooth left between them, as well as above the top one, is a small drilled dot. Some of the notches on the other side are broken away with the arm, which is missing. On the same surface are twenty-six horizontal incisions, which were interpreted as year counts. The general shape of the body and the rows of dots are similar to those of the figure pecked on the cliff at Sentinal Bluffs ([Plate XI, Fig. 2]).