Fig. 636. (S. 1–4.) Coiled bowl-tray of the ancient basket-makers, cliffs of southeastern Utah. Ornamented by two sinuous rings in black. Collection of American Museum of Natural History, New York.
While we have some numbers of textiles preserved for our inspection, yet our study of the subject is somewhat narrowed. As has been previously stated, the bulk of prehistoric artifacts are composed of more lasting materials. It is unfortunate that we have so few of the garments, robes, head-dresses, baskets, wooden and other things once in use in America.
Thorough exploration of the caves and caverns, the cliff-houses and ruined pueblos may bring to light quantities of this textile and wooden material, and I would urge that such investigations be carried on. Many of the caverns are ransacked by curiosity-seekers, and soon all the objects buried therein will have disappeared.
CHAPTER XXXII
POTTERY OF THE UNITED STATES
In Volume 1, of this work, on page 26, is presented the classification of the Nomenclature Committee with reference to pottery, which covers, as a matter of course, all the specimens illustrated in this chapter.
Fig. 637. (S. varying.) Outlines showing range of form of vases. Middle Mississippi Valley Group.
While it is true that a great deal of pottery has been taken from mounds, graves, cliff-houses and ruined pueblos by expeditions under my direction, yet I have never made a detailed study of ceramic art in America, although in a certain sense familiar with the forms found throughout this country.
It would be presumptuous for one to write of a certain phase of archæology that has been more ably and exhaustively treated by some one who is a recognized authority. And in pottery we have two scholars, whose explorations and studies place them first, Professor W. H. Holmes and Mr. Clarence B. Moore. Professor Holmes’s “Aboriginal Pottery of the Eastern United States”[[29]] will be taken as the last word on the subject. And Mr. Moore’s eighteen reports of explorations in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi illustrate all the forms in clay found in that extensive region.