The Swastika, the Earliest Known Symbol, and Its Migration / With Observations on the Migration of Certain Industries in Prehistoric Times

by Thomas Wilson

Fig. 358.
MEXICAN TERRA-COTTA SPINDLE-WHORL WITH DESIGN SIMILAR TO SWASTIKA.

These specimens are chosen because they are the largest and most elaborately decorated. It will be perceived at a glance how the style of decoration lends itself to the Swastika. It consists mostly of geometric figures, chief of which is the Greek fret, the labyrinth, the circle, and the volute, but as in the color stamps ([pp. 946-947]) there is no Swastika.

CENTRAL AMERICA.

Nicaragua.—The specimen shown in [fig. 359], from Omotepe Island, Lake Nicaragua, is one of a series of pottery spindle-whorls, bearing, however, great resemblance to those of stone. [Fig. 360] shows a specimen from the same locality. It is of pottery and bears much resemblance in form to the earliest whorls found by Schliemann on the site of Troy on the hill of Hissarlik. Both these were collected by Dr. J. F. Bransford, and are in the U. S. National Museum. [Fig. 361] shows a specimen from Granada, Nicaragua. It is of the common shape of the European prehistoric spindle-whorl. Its flat surface is decorated with a Greek cross in incised lines, two quarters of which are filled with hatch marks. [Fig. 362] shows a terra-cotta spindle-whorl from Malacate, Nicaragua. It is cone-shaped. Both these specimens were collected by Dr. Earl Flint.

Figs. 359 and 360.
TERRA-COTTA SPINDLE-WHORLS.
Omotepe Island, Nicaragua. Cat. Nos. 28898, 28899, U. S. N. M.

Fig. 361. TERRA-COTTA SPINDLE-WHORL. Granada, Nicaragua. Cat. No. 23295, U. S. N. M.		Fig. 362. TERRA-COTTA SPINDLE-WHORL. Malacate, Nicaragua. Cat. No. 29009, U. S. N. M.

SOUTH AMERICA.