Chapter 1

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Smithsonian Institution--Bureau Of Ethnology.

ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE of a Portion of the Collections Made by the Bureau of Ethnology During the Field Season of 1881.

WILLIAM H. HOLMES.

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CONTENTS. Page. Introductory 433 Collections from Jackson County, North Carolina 434 From the Cherokee Indians 434 Articles of stone 434 Articles of clay 434 Vegetal substances 435 Animal substances 437 Collections from Cocke County, Tennessee 438 From the fields at Newport 438 Articles of stone 438 From a mound on Pigeon River 440 Articles of clay 440 Collections from Sevier County, Tennessee 442 The McMahan Mound 442 Articles of stone 442 Articles of clay 443 Objects of metal 446 Objects of shell 446 Animal substances 453 From the fields of Sevierville 453 Articles of stone 453 Articles of clay 456 Collections from Roane County, Tennessee 457 Mound at Taylor's Bend 457 Articles of stone 457 Articles of clay 457 Objects of shell 458 From field at Taylor's Bend 458 Articles of stone 458 Vicinity of Kingston 460 Mound at Niles' Ferry 461 Mounds near Paint Rock Ferry 461 Fragments of pottery 461 Objects of shell 462 Collections from Jefferson County 463 Mound on Fain's Island 463 Articles of clay 463 From the fields of Fain's Island 465 Articles of stone 465 Objects of shell 466 Animal substances 466 Collections from Mississippi County, Arkansas 468 Pemissicott Mound 468 Chickasawba Mound 468 Mounds in Carson Lake Township 468 Mounds at Pecan Point 469 Articles of clay 469 Field graves and fields in vicinity of Pecan Point 470 Articles of stone 470 Articles of clay 471 Collections from Arkansas County, Arkansas 476 Mounds at Arkansas Post 476 Articles of clay 476 Field graves about Menard mounds 477 Articles of stone 477 Articles of clay 479 Objects of metal 485 Animal substances 485 Collection from Monroe County, Arkansas 486 Mound at Lawrenceville 486 Articles of clay 486 Mounds at Indian Bay 487 Articles of clay 488 Collections from Ohio 490 From mounds and fields 490 Articles of stone 490 Articles of clay 491 Human remains 491 Collections from Oregon 492 Articles of stone 492 Collections from Kentucky 493 Collections from Missouri 495 Articles of clay 495 Collections from other States 507 Collections from Peru 508

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Fig. 116.--Stone implement, Tennessee 439 117.--Sections of earthen vessels, Tennessee 440 118.--Earthen vessel, Tennessee 444 119.--Shell ornament, Tennessee 447 120.--Shell ornament, Tennessee 447 121.--Shell ornament, Tennessee 448 122.--Shell ornament, Tennessee 448 123.--Shell ornament, Tennessee 449 124.--Shell ornament, Tennessee 449 125.--Shell ornament, Tennessee 450 126.--Shell ornament, Tennessee 450 127.--Shell ornament, Tennessee 451 128.--Shell ornament, Tennessee 452 129.--Stone implement, Tennessee 454 130.--Stone implement, Tennessee 454 131.--Stone implement, Tennessee 455 132.--Stone implement, Tennessee 455 133.--Stone implement, Tennessee 456 134.--Stone implement, Tennessee 459 135.--Stone implement, Tennessee 459 136.--Shell bead, Tennessee 462 137.--Shell bead, Tennessee 462 138.--Shell bead, Tennessee 462 139.--Earthen vessel, Tennessee 464 140.--Shell ornament, Tennessee 466 141.--Shell ornament, Tennessee 466 142.--Stone implement, Arkansas 470 143.--Earthen vessel, Arkansas 471 144.--Earthen vessel, Arkansas 472 145.--Earthen vessel, Arkansas 473 146.--Earthen vessel, Arkansas 473 147.--Earthen vessel, Arkansas 474 148.--Earthen vessel, Arkansas 474 149.--Earthen vessel, Arkansas 475 150.--Earthen vessel, Arkansas 476 151.--Stone implement, Arkansas 477 152.--Earthen vessel, Arkansas 478 153.--Earthen vessel, Arkansas 479 154.--Earthen vessel, Arkansas 479 155.--Earthen vessel, Arkansas 480 156.--Earthen vessel, Arkansas 480 157.--Earthen vessel, Arkansas 481 158.--Earthen vessel, Arkansas 482 159.--Earthen vessel, Arkansas 482 160.--Earthen vessel, Arkansas 482 161.--Earthen vessel, Arkansas 482 162.--Earthen vessel, Arkansas 483 163.--Earthen vessel, Arkansas 483 164.--Earthen vessel, Arkansas 484 165.--Earthen vessel, Arkansas 484 163.--Earthen vessel, Arkansas 485 167.--Earthen vessel, Arkansas 486 168.--Earthen vessel, Arkansas 487 169.--Earthen vessel, Arkansas 488 170.--Earthen vessel, Arkansas 489 171.--Earthen vessel, Arkansas 489 172.--Method of plaiting sandals 493 173.--Method of plaiting mat 493 174.--Earthen vessel, Missouri 495 175.--Earthen vessel, Missouri 496 176.--Earthen vessel, Missouri 497 177.--Earthen vessel, Missouri 497 178.--Earthen vessel, Missouri 498 179.--Earthen vessel, Missouri 498 180.--Earthen vessel, Missouri 499 181.--Earthen vessel, Missouri 499 182.--Earthen vessel, Missouri 500 183.--Earthen vessel, Missouri 500 184.--Earthen vessel, Missouri 501 185.--Earthen vessel, Missouri 501 186.--Earthen vessel, Missouri 502 187.--Earthen vessel, Missouri 502 188.--Earthen vessel, Missouri 502 189.--Earthen vessel, Missouri 503 190.--Earthen vessel, Missouri 504 191.--Earthen vessel, Missouri 504 192.--Earthen vessel, Missouri 505 193.--Earthen vessel, Missouri 505 194.--Earthen vessel, Missouri 505 195.--Earthen vessel, Missouri 506 196.--Earthen vessel, Missouri 506 197.--Earthen vessel, Missouri 506 198.--Wooden mask, Peru 509 199.--Stone net-sinker, Peru 510 200.--Copper fish-hooks, Peru 510

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ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE OF A PORTION OF THE ETHNOLOGIC AND ARCHAEOLOGIC COLLECTIONS MADE BY THE BUREAU OF ETHNOLOGY DURING THE YEAR 1881.

By William H. Holmes.

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COLLECTION MADE BY EDWARD PALMER, IN NORTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, AND ARKANSAS.

INTRODUCTORY.

Mr. Palmer began his explorations early in July, 1881, and continued with marked success until the end of the year.

He first paid a visit to the Cherokee Indians of North Carolina, and collected a large number of articles manufactured or used by this people, besides a number of antiquities from the same region.

From Carolina he crossed into Tennessee, and began work by opening a number of mounds in Cocke County. In September he opened a very important mound, which I have named the McMahan Mound. It is located in the vicinity of Sevierville, Sevier County. Afterwards mounds were opened on Fain's Island, at Dandridge, and at Kingston.

In September he crossed into Arkansas and made extensive explorations at Osceola, Pecan Point, Arkansas Post, and Indian Bay.

It has devolved upon the writer to examine and catalogue this fine collection.

In preparing the catalogue the plan of arrangement already adopted by the Bureau has been carried out; that is, a primary classification by locality and a secondary by material.

The descriptions of specimens are taken from the card catalogue prepared by the writer on first opening the collection, and will be given in full, excepting in cases where detailed descriptions have been furnished in separate papers, either in this or the preceding Annual Report. Cuts have been made of a number of the more interesting specimens. The localities are named in the order of their exploration.

COLLECTIONS FROM JACKSON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA.

OBTAINED CHIEFLY FROM THE CHEROKEE INDIANS.

ARTICLES OF STONE.

62953. A small disk of dark-gray slate, 1-1/4 inches in diameter and 1-1/2 inches in thickness. The form is symmetrical and the surface well polished. The sides are convex, slightly so near the center and abruptly so near the circumference. The rim or peripheral surface is squared by grinding, the circular form being accurately preserved. This specimen was obtained from an aged Cherokee, who stated that it had formerly been used by his people in playing some sort of game. It seems not improbable that this stone has been used for polishing pottery.

62952. A small subglobular pebble used as a polishing stone for pottery.

62954. A polishing stone similar to the above. This implement was seen in use by the collector.

62947. A hemispherical stone, probably used as a nut-cracker.

62944. A stone implement somewhat resembling a thick, round-pointed pick, 4-1/2 inches in length and 1 inch in diameter. It is perforated exactly as an iron pick would be for the insertion of a handle. The perforation has been produced by boring from opposite sides; at the surface it is five-eighths of an inch in diameter, and midway about three-eighths. The material seems to be an indurated clay or soft slate.

The collector suggests that this specimen was probably used for smoothing bow-strings or straightening arrow-shafts.

62949. Eight arrow points of gray and blackish chalcedony.

62950. Pipe of gray, indurated steatite, of modern Cherokee manufacture.

62951. Pipe of dark greenstone, highly polished. It is well modeled, but of a recent type.

62888. Grooved ax of compact greenish sandstone; found near Bakersville, N.C.

ARTICLES OF CLAY.

Obtained from the Southern Band of Cherokees, Jackson County, North Carolina.

The manufacture of pottery, once so universally practiced by the Atlantic coast Indians, is still kept up by this tribe, rather, however, for the purpose of trade than for use in their domestic arts. The vessels are, to a great extent, modeled after the ware of the whites, but the methods of manufacture seem to be almost wholly aboriginal.

63070. A handled mug or cup of brownish ware. The form is not aboriginal. It is composed of clay, tempered, apparently, with pulverized shell. The surface has a slight polish produced by a polishing implement. The height is 4-1/2 inches and the width nearly the same.

63068. Large flat-bottomed bowl, 6 inches in height, 11 inches in diameter at the top, and 8 at the base. Although made without a wheel, this vessel is quite symmetrical. The thickness is from one-fourth to one-half of an inch. The material has been a dark clay paste with tempering of powdered mica.

63066. A three-legged pot, with spherical body, resembling very closely in appearance the common iron cooking pot of the whites. The rim is 6 inches in diameter, and 1 inch high. The body is 9 inches in diameter. Two handles are attached to the upper part of the body. The form is symmetrical and the surface highly polished. The polishing stone has been used with so much skill that the effect of a glaze is well produced. The materials used were clay and pulverized mica. The color is dark brown.

63067. A strong, rudely made vessel shaped like a half cask. The walls are about one-half an inch in thickness. The surface is rough, the polishing stone having been very carelessly applied.

63068. A flat-bottomed bowl symmetrical in shape but rudely finished.

VEGETAL SUBSTANCES.

63063. Basket sieve said to be used to separate the finer from the coarser particles of pounded corn. The coarse meal thus obtained is boiled and allowed to ferment. This is used as food and is called _connawhana_. The sieve is made of split cane carefully smoothed; some of the strips are dyed red and others brown. A simple ornamental design is worked in these colors. The opening is square, with rounded corners, the sides measuring 14 inches. The depth is 5 inches. The bottom is flat and loosely woven.

63072. A bottle-shaped basket, with constricted neck and rectangular body, used by the Cherokees for carrying fish. Height, 11 inches; width of mouth, 4 inches; diameter of body, 6 inches. It is made of strips of white oak or hickory, one-fourth of an inch in thickness.

63073. Basket made of strips of white oak intended for the storage of seeds and for other household uses. The rim is about 5 inches in diameter; the body is 8 inches in diameter, the base being rectangular and flat.

63074. Basket, made of cane, used for storing seed.

63076. Two baskets, made of cane, probably used for household purposes. They are neatly ornamented with simple designs, produced by the use of colored strips. The rims are oval in shape, and the bases rectangular. The larger will hold about half a bushel, the smaller about a gallon.

63077. Small basket with a handle, made of splints of white oak. Yellow strips of hickory bark are used to ornament the rim. Other colors are obtained by using bark of different trees, maple, walnut, etc.

63078. Small cup or dish carved from laurel or cucumber wood. It is very neatly made. The depth is about 1 inch; the width 5 inches.

63064. Large spoon, carved from laurel or cucumber wood, used by the Cherokees in handling the _connawhana_, or fermented meal. The carving is neatly done. The heart-shaped bowl is 6 inches in length, 4 in width, and about 2 in depth. The handle is 12 inches long, and is embellished at the end by a knob and ring. The knob is carved to represent a turtle's or snake's head.

63065. A smaller spoon similar in shape to the above.

63087. A large, five-pronged fork carved from the wood of the _Magnolia glauca_ (?). It resembles the iron forks of the whites.

63088. A small, three-pronged fork of the same pattern and material as the above.

63080. A wooden comb made in imitation of the shell combs used by white ladies for supporting and ornamenting the back hair. The carving is said to have been done with a knife. Considerable skill is shown in the ornamental design at the top. The wood is maple or beech.

63089. A walnut paddle or club, used to beat clothes in washing.

63059. Bow of locust wood, 5 feet long, one-half an inch thick, and 1-1/2 inches wide in the middle, tapering at the ends to 1 inch. The back of the bow is undressed, the bark simply having been removed. The string, which resembles ordinary twine, is said to be made of wild hemp. The arrows are 40 inches in length. The shafts are made of hickory wood and have conical points. Stone and metal points are not used, as the country abounds in small game only, and heavy points are considered unnecessary. In trimming the arrow two feathers of the wild turkey are used; these are close clipped and fastened with sinew.

63057. Blow-gun used by the Cherokees to kill small game. This specimen is 7 feet in length, and is made of a large cane, probably the _Arundinaria macrosperma_. These guns are made from 5 to 15 feet in length, the diameter in large specimens reaching 1-1/2 inches.

63058. Arrows used with the blow-gun. The shafts, which are made of hickory wood, are 2 feet in length and very slender. The shooting end has a conical point; the feather end is dressed with thistle-down, tied on in overlapping layers with thread or sinew. The tip of down completely fills the barrel of the gun; and the arrow, when inserted in the larger end and blown with a strong puff, has a remarkable carrying and penetrating power.

63085. Thistle-heads, probably the _Cnicus lanceolatus_, from which the down is obtained in preparing the arrows of the blow-gun.

63061. Ball-sticks or racquets made of hickory wood. Rods of this tough wood, about 7 feet long, are dressed to the proper shape, the ends having a semicircular section, the middle part being flat. Each is bent and the ends united to form a handle, leaving a pear-shaped loop 6 inches in width by about 12 in length, which is filled with a network of leather or bark strings sufficiently close to hold the ball.

63061. Ball, 1-1/2 inches in diameter, covered with buckskin, used with the racquets in playing the celebrated ball game of the Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole Indians.

ANIMAL SUBSTANCES.

63071. Shell, probably a _Unio_, used by potters to scrape the surface of clay vessels; seen in use.

63081. Comb made of horn. The teeth are 2 inches in length, and have been made with a saw. It is used in dressing the hair.

63085. Charm made of feathers and snake rattles; worn on the head or on some part of the costume.

63082. Awl of iron set in a handle of deer's horn.

COLLECTIONS FROM COCKE COUNTY, TENNESSEE.

FROM FIELDS NEAR NEWPORT.

ARTICLES OF STONE.

62752. Grooved ax, 8 inches in length, 3-1/2 in width, and about 1 in thickness; one side is quite flat, the other convex. The material is a banded schistose slate.

62758. A fine specimen of grooved ax, 7 inches in length, 4 in width, and 1-1/2 in thickness. The groove is wide and shallow, and is bordered by two narrow ridges, which are in sharp relief all the way around. The material appears to be a greenish-gray diorite.

62759. A grooved ax, 6 inches long, 3-1/2 inches wide, and 1 inch thick. This specimen is similar to the preceding, the groove being deeper on the lateral edges of the implement, and the upper end less prominent. It is made of a fine-grained gray sandstone.

62753. Fragment of a grooved ax, of gray slate. The groove is shallow and irregular.

62754. Celt of compact gray sandstone, somewhat chipped at the ends. It is 6-1/2 inches in length by 2-1/2 in width and 1-1/2 in thickness. One face is flat, the other convex. The sides are nearly parallel. A transverse section would be sub rectangular.

62755. Fragment of celt, 3 inches in length by 2 in width and about 1-1/2 in thickness. The material is a fine grained sandstone or a diorite.

62756. A long, slender celt, very carefully finished, 7 inches in length, 2 in width, and less than 1 in thickness. The material is a very compact gray slate. It has apparently been recently used as a scythe-stone by some harvester.

62757. Fragment of a small, narrow celt, both ends of which are lost. Material, gray diorite.

62760. Heavy celt of gray diorite, 8 inches in length by 3 in width and 2-1/2 in thickness.

62762. A pestle of gray diorite, with enlarged base and tapering top, 5-1/2 inches in length and 3 inches in diameter at the base.

62751. A pestle of banded schistose slate, 15 inches in length, and 2-1/2 inches in diameter in the middle, tapering symmetrically toward the ends, which terminate in rounded points.

62763. A ceremonial (?) stone resembling somewhat a small broad-bladed pick, the outline being nearly semicircular. It is pierced as a pick is pierced for the insertion of a handle. It is 2-1/2 inches in length, 1-1/2 in width, and three-fourths of an inch in thickness. The material is a soft greenish mottled serpentine, or serpentinoid limestone. Fig. 116.

62761. A pierced tablet of gray slate, 4-1/2 inches long, 1-1/2 inches wide, and half an inch thick. The two perforations are 2-1/2 inches apart; they have been bored from opposite sides, and show no evidence of use. Nine notches have been cut in one end of the tablet. It has been much injured by recent use as a whetstone.