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Show OP THE BUREAU OF ETHNOLOGY. LVII POTTERY OF THE ANCIENT PUEBLOS, BY WILLIAM H. HOLMES. This paper is a study of the pottery of the ancient Pueblo Indians made on the valuable collection obtained by the Bureau of Ethnology, which had commenced with collections made personally by Major Powell before the establishment of the Bureau. This study relates to the more ancient or prehistoric groups of ware in that collection, which are considered under the heads of coiled ware, plain ware, and painted ware, the first being the most archaic. All of these, with the processes of their manufacture, are described, distinguished, and illustrated. A full discussion of the more modern forms is reserved for future papers. The distribution and the environment of the Pueblo peoples are specified, but the author does not study the arts of their province with the direct object of ascertaining the origin of the peoples themselves or of their arts. He has used the information in his possession to elucidate the processes by which culture has been achieved and the stages through which it has passed. It is to be noted, however, that the Pueblos were sedentary, and thus practiced ceramic art continuously for a long period; also, that in their arid country there was special need of vessels for the transportation and storage of water. From the first of these peculiarities of habitat and environment, their ceramic art is without any indications of distinct periods; from the second, very many specimens have been produced and preserved. The author directs attention to the practical details, viz, material used in pottery ( often clay of a remarkably fine grain), to the modes of tempering, construction, surface finish, firing, hardness, and varieties of color and of form. The Pueblo pottery is als'o classified by its functional characteristics. In examining the illustrations some designs will attract attention from their resemblance to the most exquisite patterns of classic art and of Oriental decoration, with which they will bear favorable comparison. The special feature of this paper is that it explains more fully than has been explained before, with practical examples, |