The Swastika Part 20

_The human face and form._--These were also carved and wrought upon sh.e.l.ls in the same general locality. The engraving is always on the convex side of the sh.e.l.l which has been reduced to a pear-shaped form.[275]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 278. ENGRAVED Sh.e.l.l GORGET. Fains Island, Tennessee.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 279. ENGRAVED Sh.e.l.l GORGET REPRESENTING A RATTLESNAKE.

McMahon Mound, Tennessee. Second Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, pl. LXIII.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figs. 280 and 281. ENGRAVED Sh.e.l.lS WITH REPRESENTATIONS OF THE HUMAN FACE. McMahon Mound, Tennessee. Second Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, pl. LXIX.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figs. 282 and 283. ENGRAVED Sh.e.l.lS WITH REPRESENTATIONS OF THE HUMAN FACE. Tennessee. Second Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, pl. LXIX.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figs. 284 and 285. ENGRAVED Sh.e.l.lS WITH REPRESENTATIONS OF THE HUMAN FACE. Virginia. Second Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, pl. LXIX.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 286. ENGRAVED Sh.e.l.l WITH REPRESENTATION OF A HUMAN FIGURE. McMahon Mound, Tennessee. Second Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, pl. LXXI.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 287. ENGRAVED Sh.e.l.l WITH REPRESENTATION OF A HUMAN FIGURE. Tennessee. Second Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, pl.

LXXII.]

These human faces and forms (figs. 280-288), as well as the others, belong to the mound builders, and are found with their remains in the mounds. The figures are inserted, as is the rattlesnake, for comparison with the sh.e.l.l designs and work shown in the Buddha figure (pl. 10) and its a.s.sociates.

Slight inspection will show two styles, differing materially. To decide which was foreign and which domestic, which was imported and which indigenous, would be to decide the entire question of migration, and if done off-hand, would be presumptuous. To make a satisfactory decision will require a marshaling and consideration of evidence which belongs to the future. The specimens shown in figs. 280 to 285 are from Tennessee and Virginia. They are all masks, bearing representations of the human face.

The first two are from the McMahon mound, Tennessee; that in fig. 282 from Brakebill mound, Tennessee, and that represented in fig. 283 from Lick Creek mound, Tennessee. The sh.e.l.l shown in fig. 284 is from Aquia Creek, Virginia, and that in fig. 285 is from a mound in Ely County, Va. The workmans.h.i.+p on these has no resemblance to that on the Buddha figure (pl.

10), nor does its style compare in any manner therewith.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 288. ENGRAVED Sh.e.l.l GORGET WITH REPRESENTATION OF A HUMAN FIGURE. Missouri. Second Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, pl. LXXIII.]

On the contrary, figs. 286 to 288, representing sketches (unfinished) of the human figure, from mounds in Tennessee and Missouri, have some resemblance in style of work, though not in design, to that of the Buddha and Swastika figures. The first step in execution, after the drawing by incised lines, seems to have been to drill holes through the sh.e.l.l at each corner and intersection. The work on the specimen shown in fig. 286 has progressed further than that on the specimens shown in figs. 287 and 288.

It has twenty-eight holes drilled, all at corners or intersections. This is similar to the procedure in the Buddha statue (pl. 10). In fig. 287 the holes have not been drilled, but each member of the figure has been marked out and indicated by dots in the center, and circles or half circles incised around them in precisely the same manner as in both Swastikas (figs. 237 and 238), while fig. 288 continues the resemblance in style of drawing. It has the same peculiar garters or bracelets as the Buddha, the hand is the same as in the fighting figures (fig. 239), and the implement he holds resembles closely those in the copper figures (figs. 240 and 241).

DESIGNS ON POTTERY.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 289. POTTERY VESSEL. Four-armed volute, ogee Swastika (tetraskelion). Arkansas. 1/3 natural size.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 290. POTTERY VESSEL. Four volutes resembling Swastika.

Pecan Point, Ark. 1/3 natural size.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 291. POTTERY VESSEL MADE IN THE FORM OF AN ANIMAL.

Spiral volutes, nine arms. Pecan Point, Ark. 1/3 natural size.]

Spiral-volute designs resembling the Swastika in general effect are found on aboriginal mound pottery from the Mississippi Valley. The Fourth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, 1882-83,[276] shows many of these. Fig.

289 represents a teapot-shaped vessel from Arkansas, on the side of which, in incised lines, is shown the small circle which we saw on the sh.e.l.l disks, and springing from the four opposite sides are three incised lines, twisting spirally to the right, forming the four volutes of the Swastika (tetraskelion) and covering the entire side of the vessel. The same spiral form of the Swastika is given in fig. 290, a vessel of eccentric shape from Pecan Point, Ark. The decoration is in the form of two lines crossing each other and each arm then twisting to the right, forming volutes, the incised lines of which, though drawn close together and at equal distances, gradually expand until the ornament covers the entire side of the vase. It is questionable whether this or any of its kindred were ever intended to represent either the Swastika or any other specific form of the cross. One evidence of this is that these ornaments shade off indefinitely until they arrive at a form which was surely not intended to represent any form of the cross, whether Swastika or not. The line of separation is not now suggested by the author. An elaboration of the preceding forms, both of the vessel and its ornamentation, is shown by the vessel represented in fig. 291, which is fas.h.i.+oned to represent some grotesque beast with horns, expanding nostrils, and grinning mouth, yet which might serve as a teapot as well as the former two vessels. The decoration upon its side has six incised lines crossing each other in the center and expanding in volutes until they cover the entire side of the vessel, as in the other specimens. Fig. 292 shows a pot from Arkansas. Its body is decorated with incised lines arranged in much the same form as fig. 291, except that the lines make no attempt to form a cross. There are nine arms which spring from the central point and twist spirally about as volutes until they cover the field, which is one-third the body of the bowl. Two other designs of the same kind complete the circuit of the pot and form the decoration all around. Fig. 293[277] represents these volutes in incised lines of considerable fineness, close together, and in great numbers, forming a decoration on each of the sides of the vase, separated by three nearly perpendicular lines.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 292. POTTERY BOWL ORNAMENTED WITH MANY-ARMED VOLUTES.

Arkansas. 1/3 natural size.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 293. POTTERY VASE ORNAMENTED WITH VOLUTES. Arkansas.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 294. TRIPOD POTTERY VASE. Four-armed volutes making spiral Swastika. Arkansas. 1/3 natural size.]

The spiral Swastika form appears painted upon the pottery from Arkansas.

The specimen shown in fig. 294[278] is a tripod bottle. The decoration upon the side of the body consists of two lines forming the cross, and the four arms expand in volutes until the ornament covers one-third of the vessel, which, with the other two similar ornaments, extend around the circ.u.mference. This decoration is painted in red and white colors on a gray or yellowish ground. Fig. 295 shows a bowl from mound No. 2, Thorn's farm, Taylor Shanty group, Mark Tree, Poinsett County, Ark. It is ten inches wide and six inches high. The clay of which it is made forms the body color--light gray. It has been painted red or maroon on the outside without any decoration, while on the inside is painted with the same color a five-armed cross, spirally arranged in volutes turning to the right. The center of the cross is at the bottom of the bowl, and the painted spiral lines extend over the bottom and up the sides to the rim of the bowl, the interior being entirely covered with the design. Another example of the same style of decoration is seen on the upper surface of an ancient vase from the province of Cibola.[279]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 295. POTTERY BOWL WITH FIVE-ARMED SPIRAL SWASTIKA ON THE BOTTOM. Poinsett County, Ark. Cat. No. 114035, U. S. N. M.]

The specimen shown in fig. 296 is from the mound at Arkansas Post, in the county and State of Arkansas.[280] It represents a vase of black ware, painted a yellowish ground, with a red spiral scroll. Its diameter is 5-1/2 inches. These spiral figures are not uncommon in the localities heretofore indicated as showing the normal Swastika. Figs. 297 and 298[281] show parallel incised lines of the same style as those forming the square in the bird gorgets already noted (figs. 263-267). Fig. 297 shows a bowl nine inches in diameter; its rim is ornamented with the heart and tail of a conventional bird, which probably served as handles. On the outside, just below the rim, are the four incised parallel lines mentioned. In the center of the side is represented a rolling under or twisting of the lines, as though it represented a ribbon. There are three on each quarter of the bowl, that next the head being plain. Fig. 298 represents a bottle 6-1/2 inches in diameter, with parallel incised lines, three in number, with the same twisting or folding of the ribbon-like decoration. This twists to the left, while that of fig. 297 twists in the opposite direction. Both specimens are from the vicinity of Charleston, Mo.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 296. VESSEL OF BLACK WARE. Spiral scroll. Arkansas.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 297. BIRD-SHAPED POTTERY BOWL. Three parallel incised lines with ribbon fold. Charleston, Mo.]

DESIGNS ON BASKETRY.

The volute form is particularly adapted to the decoration of basketry, of which fig. 299 is a specimen. These motifs were favorites with the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico and Arizona.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 298. POTTERY BOWL. Three parallel incised lines with ribbon fold. Charleston, Mo.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 299. BASKETWORK WITH MANY-ARMED VOLUTES. Fourth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, fig. 485.]

IV.--THE CROSS AMONG THE AMERICAN INDIANS.

DIFFERENT FORMS.

The foregoing specimens are sufficient evidence of the existence of the Swastika among the aboriginal North Americans during the mound-building period, and although there may be other specimens of the Swastika to be reported, yet we might properly continue this investigation for the purpose of determining if there be any related forms of the cross among the same peoples. This is done without any argument as to the use of these designs beyond that attributed to them. The ill.u.s.trations and descriptions are mainly collected from objects in and reports of the U. S. National Museum and the Bureau of Ethnology.

THE CROSS ON OBJECTS OF Sh.e.l.l AND COPPER.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 300. ENGRAVED Sh.e.l.l GORGET. Greek cross with incised lines resembling a Swastika. Union County, Ill.]

The sh.e.l.l gorget presented in fig. 300 belongs to the collection of Mr. F.

M. Perrine, and was obtained from a mound in Union County, Ill. It is a little more than three inches in diameter and has been ground to a uniform thickness of about one-twelfth of an inch. The surfaces are smooth and the margin carefully rounded and polished. Near the upper edge are two perforations, both well worn with cord-marks indicating suspension. The cross in the center of the concave face of the disk is quite simple and is made by four triangular perforations which separate the arms. The face of the cross is ornamented with six carelessly drawn incised lines interlacing in the center as shown in the figure, three extending along the arm to the right and three pa.s.sing down the lower arm to the inclosing line. Nothing has been learned of the character of the interments with which this specimen was a.s.sociated.[282] The incised lines of the specimen indicate the possible intention of the artist to make the Swastika. The design is evidently a cross and apparently unfinished.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 301. ENGRAVED Sh.e.l.l GORGET. Greek cross. Charleston, Mo. Second Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, pl. LI, fig. 2.]

The National Museum possesses a large sh.e.l.l cross (fig. 301) which, while quite plain as a cross, has been much damaged, the rim that formerly encircled it, as in the foregoing figure, having been broken away and lost. The perforations are still in evidence. The specimen is much decayed and came to the National Museum with a skull from a grave at Charleston, Mo.; beyond this there is no record. The specimen shown in fig. 302 is quoted as a "typical example of the cross of the mound-builder." It was obtained from a mound on Lick Creek, Tennessee, and is in the Peabody Museum, Cambridge, Ma.s.s. While an elaborate description is given of it and figures are mentioned as "devices probably significant," and "elementary or unfinished," and more of the same, yet nowhere is suggested any relations.h.i.+p to the Swastika, nor even the possibility of its existence in America.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 302. Sh.e.l.l GORGET WITH ENGRAVING OF GREEK CROSS AND INCHOATE SWASTIKA. Second Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, pl.

LII, fig. 3.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 303. FRAGMENT OF COPPER DISK WITH GREEK CROSS IN INNER CIRCLE. Ohio. American Museum of Natural History, New York City. Second Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, pl. LII, fig. 4.]

A large copper disk from an Ohio mound is represented in fig. 303. It is in the Natural History Museum of New York. It is eight inches in diameter, is very thin, and had suffered greatly from corrosion. A symmetrical cross, the arms of which are five inches in length, has been cut out of the center. Two concentric lines have been impressed in the plate, one near the margin and the other touching the ends of the cross. Fig. 304 shows a sh.e.l.l gorget from a mound on Lick Creek, Tennessee. It is much corroded and broken, yet it shows the cross plainly. There are sundry pits or dots made irregularly over the surface, some of which have perforated the sh.e.l.l. Pl. 19 represents a recapitulation of specimens of crosses, thirteen in number, "most of which have been obtained from the mounds or from ancient graves within the district occupied by the mound-builders.

Eight are engraved upon sh.e.l.l gorgets, one is cut in stone, three are painted upon pottery, and four are executed upon copper. With two exceptions, they are inclosed in circles, and hence are symmetrical Greek crosses, the ends being rounded to conform to a circle."[283] Figs. 7 and 9 of pl. 19 represent forms of the Latin cross, and are modern, having doubtless been introduced by European priests. Figs. 10 to 13 are representatives of the Swastika in some of its forms.

[Ill.u.s.tration: PLATE 19. VARIOUS FORMS OF CROSSES IN USE AMONG NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS, FROM GREEK CROSS TO SWASTIKA. Second Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, 1880-81, Pl. LIII.]

EXPLANATION OF PLATE 19.