• I « ■ ■ •« 9 m • % i ^ » • ■ ■ ■ *» -: — — » • •*^*» % •^^ % ^ % « • _ > ^T ' w ■ " ■ -•UP"! •-ULUL -*-«- • ft • ^rr- * «" »^ * — • • ■—-*'• K - « • ^ m «•• ^»- #% * ^ 1 #••• -^TT • f E _ ^ — * *• • 4 •# i « • '/ _ -* + j3 r • » -»* ' « • > • »" _ __ _ - < 1 1 ■* 3$-y- ANCIENT ART PROVINCE OF CH1RIQUJ, COLOMBIA WILLIAM H. IIOLMI'.S. CONTENTS Introduction 1 :{ Geography l :\ Literature 14 Pe< >ples 15 The ceineteries 16 The graves IT Human remains 20 Placing of relics 21 Objects of art 21 Stone 21 Pictured rocks 21 Columns 22 Images ",':{ Mealing stones 2*> Stools -21 ( elts &c 2!) Spearheads -U Arrowpoints M Ornaments :t-l Metal :tf Gold and copper :i"> Bronze ■>'.» (lay: Pottery :>:', Preliminary •">:'. How found ■"»■") Material :.."» Manufacture "iti Color :.: Use ", Forms of vessels .*»s 1 >ecoration 152 \ 'npaintesi(ied (5 CONTENTS. 1'age. < )bjects of art — ( Continued. ( lav : Miscellaneous objects 14!l Spindle whorls 149 Needlecases 150 Figurines 151 Stools 154 Musical instruments 156 Rattles 15(5 Drums 157 Wind instruments 160 Life forms in vase painting 171 Resume >,,,,,,, 186 ILLUSTRATION'S. Page. Plate I. Map of Chiriqui 13 FlG. 1. Section of oval grave 17 2. Section of a quadrangular grave 1* 3. Grave with pillars 18 1. Compound cist 19 5. Southwest lace of the pictured stone -JJ (i. A goddess of the ancient (Jhiriquians 2:5 7. A god of the ancient (Jhiriquians 34 H. Fragmentary human figure in gray hasaltic rock 25 9. Mealing stone with large tablet ornamented with animal heads .... 26 10. Puma shaped metate 27 11. Stool shaped object 28 12. Stool with columnar base 28 13. Stool with perforated base 29 14. Large partially polished celt 30 15. Celt of hexagonal section 31 1G. Small wide bladed celt :51 17. Celt with heavy shaft 31 18. Celt or ax with constriction near the top 31 19. Flaked and partially polished celt :J2 20. Well polished celt 32 21. Narrow pointed celt 32 22. Narrow pointed celt 32 23. Cylindrical celt with narrow point 33 24. Leaf shaped objects suggesting spearpoints 34 25. Arrowpoints «4 2(5. Human figure, formed of copper-gold alloy 11 27. Grotesque human iigure in gold 42 28. Rudely shaped human figure in gold 42 29. ( irotesque human Iigure in nearly pure copper 43 30. ( Jrotesque human Iigure in nearly pure gold 13 31. Rudely executed image of a bird in gold II 32. Image of a bird in gold I"> 33. I'nma shaped figure in gold l"i 34. Puma shaped figure in base metal I~> 35. <,>uadiupe I with grotesque face in base metal » ,; 30. Figure of a fish in gold Hi :!7. Luge Iigure of a frog, in l.a-e metal plated with gold 47 3M. Small figure of a frog, in base metal plated with gold 17 39. Figure of an alligator in gold I s 40. Animal Iigure. in base metal plated with gold I s 41. Ih-i.ii/.e U-Ils plated or washed with gold . ...... ...... ■"'" 42. Mron/.e I -. • 1 1 with human features. ".u 13. Triple Im-11 or rattle found on the Ri.. (irande ">1 S [ILLUSTRATIONS. Page. Via. 44. Ancient Mexican bell 51 45. Fundamental forms of vases — convex outlines 58 46. Fundamental forms of vases — angular outlines 59 47. Vases i >!' complex outlines — exceptional forms 59 4s. Vases of compound forms 59 49. Square lipped vessel 59 50. Variations in the forms of necks and rims ($0 51. Arrangement of handles 60 52. Types of annular bases or feet . Large vase with two mouths and neatly decorated necks 72 81. Large vase with high handles 72 82. Top view of high handled vase 73 S3. Handled vase 73 84. Handled vase 73 85. Handled vase 73 SO. Small cup with single handle, ornamented with grotesque figure ... 71 87. Small cup with single handle, ornamented with grotesque figure ... 74 88. Vase of eccentric form 74 so. Vessel illustrating forms of legs. . 75 90. Vessel illustrating forms of legs 75 01. Vessel with huge legs, decorated with stellar punctures 75 92. Vases of varied form with plain and animal shaped legs 75 93. Large vase of striking shape 7 114. Small tripod cnp with upright walls 82 115. Vase with flaring rim and legs imitating animal heads 82 116. Vase modeled to represent the head of an animal 83 117. Pattern upon the hack of the vase S3 1 IS. Tripod howl of red scarified ware S7 119. Tripod l>owl of red scarified ware s7 120. Oblong basin with scarified design ss 121. Large scarified ImiwI with handles imitating animal beads ss 122. Jar with flat bottom and vertical bands of incised ornament H<> 123. Vase with stand and vertical incised bands s '.t 124. Vase with handles, legs, and vertical ribs H9 125. Tripod with owl-like heads at insertion of legs 90 126. Tripod with legs rudely suggesting animal forms 90 127. Heavy red vase with four mouths !M> 128. Vase with horizontally placed handles and rude designs in red 91 129. Unpolished vase with heavy handles and coated with soot 92 130. Round bodied vase with unique handles and incised ornament 92 131. Vase with grotesque figures attached to the handles It:'. 132. Vase with upright handles and winged lip '.*:! 133. Top view of vase with winged lip 94 134. Vase with grotesque animal shaped handles 94 135. Vase with handles representing strange animals 95 136. Vase with handles representing grotesque figures 95 137. Vase with handles representing animal heads '.»»; 13s. Vase with arched handles end lellished with life forms in high relief. '.••; 139. Vase with arched handles eml>ellished with life forms in high relief. !•? 140. Tripod vase with shallow basin and eccentric handles. '.»!• 111. Tripod vase with shallow basin and eccentric handles. '.»'.» I 12. Tripod vase with shallow hash) and eccentric handles. !•'.( 143. TripMl vase of graceful shape ami neat finish 1'mi 111. Heavy tripod vase with widely spreading feet I' 1 " 1 15. Neatly modeled vase embellished with life forms and device-, in nil MM 146. High tripod vase with incited designs and rude figure- in red. I'M 117. Handsome tripod va-e with -croll ornament . I"'-' I IS. Vase with lizard shaped legs 1"'.' i l!». Vase >.\ itli scroll ornament . . in:! 1() ILLUSTRATIONS. Page. Fia. 150. Largo vase with flaring rim and widespreading legs 103 151. Fragment of a tripod vase embellished with figure of an alligator. 104 152. Vase supported by grotesque human figures 105 153. Roun 1 bodied vase embellished with figures of monsters 106 154. Cup witli incurved rim and life form ornamentation 107 155. Cup with widely expanded rim and constricted neck 107 156. Small tripod cup with animal features in high relief 108 157. Handsome vase supported by three grotesque figures 108 158. Vase decorated with figures of frogs and devices in red 110 159. Vase of unique shape and life form ornamentation 110 160. Two-handled vase with life form and linear decoration 110 161. Small tripod vase with animal figures in white Ill 162. Shapely vase with designs in white paint 112 163. Small red bottle with horizontal bands of ornament 115 164. Small red bottle with encircling geometric devices 1 15 165. Bottle with zone occupied by geometric devices 116 166. Bottle with broad zone containing geometric figures 116 167. Bottle with decoration of meandered lines 117 168. Bottle with arched panels and geometric devices 117 169. Bottle with arched panels and elaborate devices 118 170. Vase with rosettedike panels 118 170a. Ornament from preceding vase 118 171. Vase with rosettedike panels 119 172. Vase with rosettedike panels 1 19 173. Theoretical origin of the arched panels 120 174. Theoretical origin of the arched panels 120 175. Theoretical origin of the arched panels 120 176. Vase decorated with conventional figures of alligators 120 177. Portion of decorated zone illustrating treatment of life forms 121 178. Portion of decorated zone illustrating treatment of life forms 121 179. Vase decorated with highly conventional life forms 121 179a. Design from preceding vase 122 180. Vase decorated with highly conventional life forms 122 181. Vase decorated with highly conventional life forms 123 182. Decorated panel with devices resembling vegetal growths. . . 124 183. Vase of unusual shape 124 184. Vase of unusual shape 124 1 85. Vase of unusual shape 124 186. Double vessel with high arched handle 125 187. Double vessel with arched handle 125 IKS. Vase embellished with life forms in color and in relief 126 189. Vase modeled to represent a peccary 127 190. Under surface of peccary vase 127 191. Small vessel with human figures in high relief 127 192. Tripod cup with figures of the alligator 128 193. Large shallow tripod vase with geometric decoration 129 194. Large bottle shaped vase with high tripod and alligator design. . . . 130 195. Large bottle with narrow zone containing figures of the alligator. . 132 196. Vase with decorated zone containing four arched panels 133 197. Vase with four round nodes upon which are painted animal devices . 133 198. Vases of varied form and decoration 134 199. Alligator vase with conventional markings 135 200. Alligator vase with figures of the alligator painted on the sides. . . . 135 ILLUSTRATIONS. H i FlG. 201. Vase with serpent ornamentation I3t> 202. Vase representing a puma with alligator figures painted on hides. . 137 203. Shallow vase with reptilian features in relief and in color 13? 204. Vase with funnel shaped mouth 138 205. Top view of vase in Fig. 204 139 206. End view of vase in Fig. 204 139 207. Large vase with decorations in red and black 140 208. Devices of the decorated zone of vase in Fig. 207, viewed from above. 141 209. Handsome vase with four handles and decorations in black, red. ami purple 142 210. Painted design of vase in Fig. 209. viewed from al>ove 143 211. Vase of unusual sliajM' witli decoration in black, red. and purple. . 144 212. Ornament occupying the interior surface of the basin of vase in Fig. 211 144 213. Large vase of line shai>e and simple decorations 14."* 214. Vase witli extraordinary decorative designs 14»> 215. Painted design of vase in Fig. 21 1. viewed from al)ove 147 216. Vase of unique form and decoration 14M 217. Painted design of vase in Fig. 210 148 218. Spindle whorl witli annular nodes 149 219. Spindle whorl decorated with animal figures 149 220. Spindle whorl with perforations and incised ornament 149 221 . Needlecase 1 50 222. Needlecase 150 223. Needlecase with painted geometric ornament 151 224. Needlecase with incised geometric ornament 151 225. Needlecase with incised geometric ornament 151 226. Statuette 152 227. Statuette 152 228. Statuette 152 229. Statuette 152 230. Stool of plain terra cotta 154 231. Stool of plain clay, with grotesque figures 155 232. Stool of plain terra cotta 155 233. Rattle 157 234. Section of rattle 157 235. Rattle, with grotesque figures 157 230. Drum <>!' gray unpainted clay l- ,s 237. Drum with painted ornament 1»9 238. Painted design of drum in Fig. 237 159 239. Double whistle I«l 240. Section of double whistle 1«1 241. Tubular instrument with two finger holes 1*>2 242. Section of whistle "'•'-' 243. Small animal shaped whistle 1«>2 244. Small animal shaped whistle H»2 245. Top shaped whistle 1 ,;:; 246. Section, top. and bottom views of whittle l ,; l 247. Drum shaped whistle I'' 1 "' 248. Vase shaped whistle 1«>5 249. Crab shaped whi.-tle ">'' 250. Alligator shaped whistle . l ,i,; 251. < 'at shaped w histle I' 1 ' 252. Whistle with four ocdotdik.' head- ■ ■•• l'' s 253. Mini shaped whi-tle I''' 1 12 TTJ/TKTRATTONS. FIG. 254. 255. 256. 257. 258. 259. 260. 261. 262. 263. 264. 265. 266. 267. 268. 269. 270. 271. 272. 273. 274. 275. 276. 277. 278. 279. 280. 281. 282. 283. 284. 285. Bird shaped whistle Bird shaped whistle Whistle in grotesque Convention;! Conventiona Conventiona Conventiona Conventiona Conventiona Conventiona Conventiona Conventiona Conventiona Conventiona Conventiona Conventiona Conventiona Conventiona Conventiona Conventiona Conventiona Conventiona Conventiona Conventiona Conventiona Conventiona Conventiona Conventiona Conventiona Conventiona Page. 169 170 life form 170 figure of the alligator 173 figure of the alligator 173 figure of the alligator 174 figure of the alligator 174 figure of the alligator 174 figure of the alligator 175 figure of the alligator 175 figure of the alligator figure derived from the alligator, figure derived from the alligator figure derived from the alligator 176 176 176 176 figure derived from the alligator 177 177 figure derived from the alligator figure derived from the alligator 177 figure derived from the alligator 178 figure derived from the alligator 178 figure derived from the alligator 178 figures derived fr om the alligator 179 figure derived from the alligator 179 figure derived from the alligator 180 figures derived from the alligator 180 figures derived from the alligator 181 figures derived from the alligator 182 figures derived from the alligator 182 figures derived from the alligator 182 figures derived from the alligator 182 figures derived from the alligator 183 Vase with decorated zone containing remarkable devices 185 Series of devices 185 ANCIENT ART OF THE PROVINCE OF CHIRIQUI. By William H. Holmes. INTRODUCTION. OKOURAPHY. Until comparatively recent times the province of (Jhiriqui has remained almost unknown to the world at large. The isthmus was traversed a number of times by the conquerors, who published accounts of their discoveries, but it was reserved for the period of railroad and canal exploration to furnish trustworthy accounts of its character and inhabitants. The situation of Chiriqui is unique. Forming, politically, a part of South America, it belongs in reality to the North American continent. It occupies a part of the great southern flexure of the isthmus at a point where the shore lines begin finally to turn toward the north. The map accompanying this paper (Plate 1 ) conveys a clear idea of the position and the leading topographic features of the province. The boundaries separating it from Veragua on the east and Costa Rica on the west run nearly north and south. The Atlantic coast line has a northwest and southeast trend and is indented by the bay or lagoon of Chiriqui. The Hay of David extends into the land <>n the south and the Gulf of Dolce forms a part of the western boundary. A rang<^ of mountains, consisting principally of volcanic products, ex- tends midway along the province, forming the continental water- shed.' The drainage comprises two systems of short rivers that run. one to the north and t he other to 1 he south, into the opposing oceans. Belts of lowland border the shorelines. That on the south side is from twenty to thirty miles wide and rises gradually into a plateau two or three thousand feet in elevation, which is broken by hills and cut by canons. This belt affords a natural thoroughfare for peoples migrating from continent to continent, and doubtless formed al all periods an attractive district for occupation. It is in the middle por- t ion of this strip of lowland, especially in the drainage area of the Bay of David, thai the most plentiful evidences of ancient occupation are found. Scattering remains have been discovered all along, however, connecting the art of Costa Rica with that of Veragua. Panama, and ! Fur |'i\ mi;iI feature*, see report "I Lieutenant Norton i l\e|N lit ( 'liiriipii ( 'mnnii* -ion. K\. hoc. II. ISIHI 14 ANCIENT ART OP THE PROVINCE OF CHIRIQUI. the South American continent. The islands of the coast furnish some fragmentary monuments and relics, and there is no doubt that a vast quantity of material yet remains within the province to reward the diligent search of future explorers. LITERATURE. The antiquarian literature of the province is extremely meager, being confined to brief sketches made by transient visitors or based for the most part upon the testimony of gold hunters and government explorers, who took but little note of the unpretentious relics of past ages. As there are few striking monuments, the attention of archae- ologists was not called to the history of primeval man in this region , and until recently the isthmus was supposed to have remained prac- tically unoccupied by that group of cultured nations whose works in Peru and in Mexico excite the wonder of the world. But. little by little, it has been discovered that at some period of the past the province was thickly populated, and by races possessed of no mean culture. The most important contributions to the literature of this region, so far as they have come to my knowledge, are the following: A paper by Mr. Merritt, published by the American Ethnological Society; 1 a paper by Bollaert, published by the same society, and also a volume issued in London; 2 a valuable pamphlet, with photographic illustra- tions, by M. De Zeltner, French consul to Panama in I860; 3 a short paper by Mr. A. L. Pinart, published in the Bulletin de la Societe de Ge*ographie (Paris, 1885, p. 433), in which he gives valuable infor- mation in regard to the peoples, ancient and modern; and casual notes by a number of other writers, some of which will be referred to in the following pages. A pretty full list of authorities is given by Mr. H. H. Bancroft in his Native Paces, Vol. V, p. l(i. One of the most important additions to our knowledge of the prov- ince and its archa?ologic treasures is furnished in the manuscript notes of Mr. J. A. McNiel. who made the greater part of the collection now deposited in the National Museum. This explorer has person- ally supervised the examination of many thousands of graves and has forwarded the bulk of his collections to the United States. His explorations have occupied a number of years, during which time he has undergone much privation and displayed great enthusiasm in pursuing the rather thorny pathways of scientific research. In the preparation of this paper his notes have been used as freely as their rather disconnected character warranted, and since Mr. McNiel's re- turn to the United States, in July. 1886, I have been favored with a 'J. King Merritt: '• Report on the huacals or ancient graveyards of Chiriqui." Bulletin of the American Ethnological Society, 1860. -Bollaert: Antiquarian Researches in New Granada. London. ISfilt. 'A. De Zeltner: Notes sin- les sepultures indiennes du departement de Uhiriqui. holmes.J LITERATURE AND PEOPLE. \ ;") series of interviews with him, and by this means much important in- formation has been obtained. PEOPLE. At the present time this district is inhabited chiefly by Indians and natives of mixed blood, who follow grazing and agriculture to a lim- ited extent, but subsist largely upon the natural products of the country. These peoples an- generally thought to have no knowledge or trustworthy tradition of the ancient inhabitants and are said t<> care nothing for the curious cemeteries among which they dwell, ex- cept as a source of revenue. Mr. A. L. Pinarl states, however, that certain tribes on both sides of the continental divide have traditions pointing toward the ancient grave builders as their ancestors. There is probably no valid reason for assigning the remains of this region to a very high antiquity. The highest stage of culture here may have been either earlier or later than the period of highest civiliza- tion in Mexico and South America or contemporaneous with it. There is really no reason for supposing that the tribes who built these graves were not in possession of the country, or parts of it. at the time of the conquest. As to the affinities of the ancient middle isthmian tribes with the peoples north and south of them \wecan learn nothing posi- tive from the evidences of their art. So far as the art of pottery has come within my observation, it appears to indicate a somewhat closer relationship with the ancient Costa Rican peoples than with those of continental South America: yet. in their burial customs, in the lack of enduring houses and temples, and in their use of gold, they were like the ancient peoples of middle and southern New ( Jranada. 1 The relics preserved in our museums would seem to indicate our principal period of occupation or culture only: but there has been no intelligent study of the contents of the soil in sections exposed in modern excavations, the exclusive aim of collectors having generally been to secure either gold or showy cahinel specimens. The relics of very primitive periods, if such arc represented, have naturally passed unnoticed. Mr. McXiel mentions the occurrence of pottery in the soil in which the graves were dug, but. regarding it as identical with that contained in the graves, he neglected to preserve specimens. In one instance, while on a visit to Los Reinedios. a pueblo near the eastern frontier of (Miiriqui. he observed a cultivate, 1 field about which a ditch some S or !• feet in depth had been dim. In walk- ing through this he found ;i continuous exposure of broken pottery and stone implements. Some large urns had been cut across or broken to conform to the slope of the ditch, and were exposed in sect ion. k\ B. White: .lour. Anthrop. ln*t.. -J I 1. F-Vlmiarv I MSI. 16 ANCIENT ART OF THE PROVINCE OP CHIRIQUI. Although not apparently representing a very wide range of culture or distinctly separated periods of culture, the various groups of relics exhibit considerable diversity in conception and execution, attribut- able, no doubt, to variations in race and art inheritance. THE CEMETERIES. The ancient cemeteries, or huacals, as they are called throughout Spanish America, are scattered over the greater part of the Pacific slope of Chiriqui. It is said by some that they are rarely found in the immediate vicinity of the sea, but they occur in the river valleys, on the hills, the plateaus, the mountains, and in the deepest forests. They are very numerous, but generally of small extent. The largest described is said to cover an area of about twelve acres. They were probably located in the immediate vicinity of villages, traces of which, however, are not described by explorers; but there can be no doubt that diligent search will bring to light the sites of dwellings and towns. The absence of traces of houses or monuments indicates either that the architecture of this region was then, as now, of destructible material, or, which is not likely, that so many ages have passed over them that all traces of unburied art, wood, stone, or clay, have yielded to the ''gnawing tooth of time." One of the most circumstantial accounts of these burial places is given by Mr. Merritt, who was also the first to make them known to science. 1 Mr. Merritt was director of a gold mine in Veragua. and in the summer of 1859 spent several weeks in exploring the graves of Chiriqui ; he therefore speaks from personal knowledge. In the autumn of 1858 two native farmers of the parish of Bugaba, or Bugava, dis- covered a golden image that had been exposed by the uprooting of a plant. They proceeded secretly to explore the graves, the existence of which had been known for years. In the following spring their operations became known to the people, and within a month more than a thousand persons were engaged in working these extraordinary gold mines. The fortunate discoverers succeeded in collecting about one hundred and thirty pounds weight of gold figures, most of which were more or less alloyed with copper. It is estimated that fifty thousand dollars' worth in all was collected from this cemetery, which embraced an area of twelve acres. Although there are rarely surface indications to mark the position of the graves, long experience has rendered it comparatively easy to discover them. The grave hunter carries a light iron rod. which he runs into the ground, and thus, if any hard substance is present, dis- covers the existence of a burial. It is mentioned by one or two writers that the graves are in many cases marked by stones, either loose or set in the ground in rectangular and circular arrangements. The J. King Merritt: Paper read before the American Ethnological Society, 1860. CEMETERIES AND GRAVES. 17 graves do not often seem to have had a uniform position in relation to one another or to the points of the compass. In some cases they are clustered about a central tomb, and then assume a somewhat radiate arrangement; again, according to Mr. McNiel, they are some- times placed end to end, occupying Long trenches. THE GRAVES. Graves of a particular form are said to occur sometimes in groups oc- cupying distinct parts of the cemetery, but the observations an* not suf- ficiently definite to be of value. The graves vary considerably in form, construction, and depth, and are classified variously by explorers. In the Bugaba cemetery Mrr Merritt found two well marked varieties, the oval and the quadrangular, reference being had to t lie horizontal section. The oval grave pits weir from 1' tot; feet deep and from •'» to 4 feet in greatest diameter. A wall of rounded river stones \M to :> feet high lined the lo\v< r part of the pit. and from the top of this the entire space was closely packed with rounded stones. Within the faced up part of this cist the remains of the dead, the golden figures, pottery, and implements had been deposited. This form is illustrated in Fig. 1 by a vertical section constructed from the de- scription given by Mr. Merritt. A • Via. 1. SVrtion of ova) irmw- The quadrangular graves were constructed in two somewhat dis- tinct wav.;. One variety was identical in ni(»st respects with theoval form illustrated above. They were sometimes as much as ii fret deep and frequently 1 by ; feet in horizontal dimension.-. In the other form a pit 1 by i'».\ feel in diameter wa> Mink to the depth of ab. feet. Underneath this another pit some » feet in depth was sunk, lea vin.i;- an offset or terrace mh' |o inches in width all a round. The smaller pit was lined with Hat stmio placed on .■,!-,•. In thi> cist the human remain- ami the relics were placed and r.>\ ei-ed • >\ er with Hat stones, which re-ted upon the terrace and pn-\'i I cum bent mass, which con-i-ted of c|o>d\ packed n\ er -tone-. I 'r- *ni ti KTII "-' 18 ANCIENT ART OF THE PROVINCE OF CHIRIQL'I. crushing the contents. A section of this tomb is given in Fig. 2, also drawn from the description given by Mr. Merritt. Fio. 2. Section of a quadrangular grave, showing the surface pack of river stones and the positions of the slabs and objects of art. Mr. Merritt and others mention that in some of the graves pillars are employed to support the roof of the cist. These pillars are mentioned briefly by De Zeltner, from whose account the following illustrations are drawn. This author does not state that he made any personal investigations, and if his accounts were obtained from the natives their entire trustworthiness may very properly be ques- tioned. The first two forms mentioned by him are similar to those already given. The third is described as having at the corners square pillars of stone to support the covering, which, however, is not de- scribed. The fourth has four pillars, placed in the corners of the pit. These serve to support a vault of flagstones. The walls between the pillars are faced with pebbles, as in the cases previously described. Fig. 3. Grave with pillars, described by De Zeltner. Fig. :! will make this form clear at a glance. The fifth variety de- scribed by De Zeltner is quite extraordinary in construction. His account is somewhat confusing in a number of respects, and the section given in Fig. 4 cannot claim more than approximate accuracy in details and measurements. Near the surface a paving, perhaps HOLMES.] GRAVES AND HUMAN REMAINS. 10 of river stones, was found covering an area of about in by 1.'! feet. This paving was apparently the surface of a pack about 2 feet thick. ^■;.iD*n Kio. 4. Compound cist.ey !>>■ 7*>\tmr. and covered the mouth of the main pit, which was some feel deep. At the bottom of t his cistern the human remains ami most of the relics were deposited. The shaft was tilled in with earth and the pavings de- scribed. The total depth, computed from the figures given, is about IS feet, a most remarkable achievement for a barbarous people: yet this is equaled by t he ancient | ribes of the mainland of New ( iranada, where similar burial customs seem to have prevailed. Mr. White. 1 who traveled extensively in the northwestern part of the state, says: A dry. elevated ridjjje. C(»mjH)sed <>t easily excavated material, wa- selected a- the cemetery. A pit of only a yard or so in diameter was Mink, sometime-, vertically, sometimes at an allele, or sometimes it varied from vertical to inclined. Ii \\ a- siink to depths varying from |.*> to Co feet, and ;it the hottotn a chamlH-r was font led in the earth. 1 1 ere the dead was deposited, with In- arm-, too!-. . ... .km- ntensils. ornaments, and chattels iceiierallv . \\ il Ii in.u/e and fermented liipior made of mai/.e. The chaml>er and passage were then rammed tibials full ol earth, .mil sometimes it would appear that peculiar earth, other than that e\ca\ ate.l on tin spot . was used. < hie not un frequent l\ detect- a peculiar ai ■ una tie -null m t In- ■ nth. and fragments of charcoal are alwa\ - found mixed with it in i ■ < it it n H. M. White: .lour. Anthrop. In-t. final liritam and Ireland. |i :'\<'< ,'el>ruar\ 1SS|. 20 ANCIENT ART OF THE PROVINCE OF CHIRIQUI. M. Do Zeltner describes other very simple graves which are filled in with earth, excepting a surface paving of pebbles. Mr. McNiel, who has examined more examples than any other white man, and over a wide district with David as a center, discredits the statements of De Zeltner in respect to the form illustrated in Fig. 4. and states that generally the graves do not differ greatly in shape and finish from the ordinary graves of to-day. He describes the pits as being oval and quadrangular and as having a depth ranging from a few feet to 18 feet. The paving or pack consists of earth and water worn stones, the latter pitched in without order and forming but a small percentage of the filling. He has never seen such stones used in facing the walls of the pit or in the construction of pillars. The flat stones which cover the cist are often 10 or 15 feet below the surface and are in some cases very heavy, weighing 300 pounds or more. A single stone is in cases large enough to cover the entire space, but more frequently two or more fiat stones are laid side by side across the cavity. These are supported by river stones, a foot or more in length, set around the margin of the cist. He is of the opinion that both slabs and bowlders were in many cases carried long distances. No one of the pits examined was of the extraordinary form described in detail by De Zeltner and others. HUMAN REMAINS. The almost total absence of human remains has frequently been remarked, and the theory is advanced that cremation must have been practiced. We have no evidence, however, of such a custom among the historic tribes of this region, and, besides, such elaborate tombs would hardly be constructed for the deposition of ashes. Yet. con- sidering the depth of the graves, their remarkable construction, and the character of the soil selected for burial purposes, it is certainly wonderful that such meager traces of human remains are found. Pinart surmises, from the analogies of modern burial customs upon the north coast, that the bones only were deposited in the graves, the flesh having been allowed to decay by a long period of exposure in the open air. This, however, would probably not materially hasten the decay of the bones. Mr. Merritt states that human hair was obtained from graves at Bugaba, and that he has himself secured the enamel of a molar tooth from that locality. De Zeltner tells us that in three varieties of graves remains of skeletons are found, always, however, in a very fragile condition. One skull was obtained of sufficient stability to be cast in plaster, but De Zeltner is not certain that it belonged to the people who built the tombs. Mr. McNiel reports the occasional finding of bones, and a number of bundles of them are included in his collection. He reports that there are no crania and that nothing could be determined- as to the position of the bodies when first buried. holmes | OBJECTS OF AKT IN STONE. •>! Pinart observes that in some cases the bodies or remnants of bodies were distributed about the margin of* the pit bottom with the various utensils in the center, and again that the remains were laid away in niches dug in the sides of the main pit. These scattering observations will serve to give a general idea of the modes of sepulture practiced in this region, but there must he a closer record of localities and a careful correlation of the varying phenomena of inhumation before either ethnology or arelueology can be greatly benefited. PLACING OF RELICS. The pieces of pottery, implements, and ornaments were probably buried with the dead, pretty much as are similar objects in other parts of America, The almost total disappearance of the human remains makes a determination of exact relative positions impossible. The universal testimony, however, is that all were n<>t placed with the body, but that some were added as thegrave was filled up. being placed in the crevices of the walls or pillars or t hrown in upon the accumu- lating earth and pebbles of the surface pavement. The heavy im- plements of stone are rarely very far beneath the surface. OBJECTS OF ART From the foregoing account it is apparent that our knowledge of the art of ancient Chiriqui must for the present be derived almost entirely from the contents of the tombs. The inhabitants were skill- ful in the employment and the manipulation of stone, clay, gold, and copper; and the perfection of their work in these materials, taken in connection with the construction of their remarkable tombs, indi- cates a culture of long standing and a capacity of no mean order. <)f their architecture, agriculture, or textile art we can learn little or nothing. The relics represented in the collection of the National Museum consist chiefly of articles of stone, gold, copper, and clay. STONE. 1 Works executed in stone, excluding the tombs, may be arranged in the following classes: Pictured rocks, sculpt u red column-. iiuage>. mealing stones, stools, celts, nrrowpoiuts. sj»earpoints( l"). poli-liinu stones, and ornaments. Pictured rods. ( )ur accounts of t hese objects are ver\ meaner. The only one definitely described is the "///Wro /iintnf." A few of the figures engraved upon it ;[}■<■ i^iven by Seemann. from whom I quote t he fo| h iwing paragraph : ' | ;, m in, lrl.tr. I (n Ml. .1. S. Dillrl. el llle I "llit«il State- ( in .|. .- ir:il Sunn. f. t tlir lU-ter initiation <>l I In- >|»««ii> .-t >tnit«- in tlii.-. -< ri<-> >>t <>l.|<-. t- 99 ANCIENT ART OF THE PROVINCE OF CHIRIQUI. At Caldera, a few leagues [north] from the town of David, lies a granite block known to the country people as the piedra pintal, or painted stone. It is 15 feet high, nearly 50 feet in circumference, and flat on the top. Every part, especially t lie eastern side, is covered with figures. One represents a radiant sun: it is fol- lowed by a series of heads, all, with some variation, scorpions and fantastic figures. The top and the other side have signs of a circular and oval form, crossed by lines. The sculpture is ascribed to the Dorachos (or Dorasques), but to what purpose the stone was applied no historical account or tradition reveals. 1 These inscriptions are irregularly placed and much scattered. They are thought to have been originally nearly an inch deep, but in places are almost effaced by weathering, thus giving a suggestion of great antiquity. I have seen tracings of these figures made recently by Mr. A. L. Pinart which show decided differences in detail, and Mr. McNiel gives still another transcript. I present in Fig. 5 Mr. McNiebs sketch of the southwest face of the rock, as he has given considera- bly more detail than any other visitor. Mr. McNiel's sketches show Fig. 5. Southwest face of the pictured stone. seventeen figures on the opposite side of the rock. Seemann gives only twelve, while Mr. Pinart's tracings show ttpwards of forty upon the same face. These three copies would not be recognized as refer- ring to the same original. That of Mr. Pinart seems to show the most careful study and is probably accurate. Good photographs would be of service in eliminating the inconvenient personal equa- tion always present in the delineation of such subjects. These figures bear little resemblance to those painted upon the vases of this region. Other figures are said to be engraved upon the bowlders and stones used in constructing the burial cists. De Zeltner states that " one often meets with stones covered with rude allegorical designs, repre- senting men. pumas (tigre I'), and birds. It is particularly in such huacas as have pillars and a vault that these curious specimens of In- dian art are found." 2 Columns. — A number of authors speak casually of sculptured stone columns, none of which have been found in place. Seemann 'Seemann: Voy. Herald. Vol. I. p. 312. • A. de Zeltner: Notes sur les sepultures indiennes du departement de Chiriqui. HOLMES.] COLUMNS AND IMAGES IN STONE. 23 says that they may be seen in David, where they arc used for build- ing purposes, 1 but this is not continued by others. The sculptures are said to be in relief, like those of Yucatan and Peru. Cullen says that columns arc found on the Island of Muerto. Bay of David. 2 Others arc mentioned as having been seen in Veragua. [mages. — Objects that may properly be classed as images or idols areof rather rare occurrence. Half a dozen specimens are found in the McNiel collections. The most important of these represents a full length female figure t wenty-1 hree Indies in height. It is executed in the round, with considerable attempt at detail (Fig. '">). I may mention, as strong characteristics, the flattened crown, encircled by a narrow turban-like band, the rather angular face and prominent nose, and the formal pose of the arms and hands. Besides the head baud, the only other suggestion of costume is a belt about the waist The material is a compact, sli-hth \e>i.-ular. ..live irray. ha>a ,,,,-k. | haveseen a f.-w additional example "I ' the identity in type and detail conclude thai tin- p-i-ona-,. sented was probably an importani I myt h..l..-\ ■•!' th<- < "Inn. Si-.-m:iim: V-.n. ll.-.al-l. V..I. I \< ; '- ; - ( 'iillciiV I >;iriiii. |>. : > v - •_>4 ANCIENT ART OF THE PROVINCE OF CHTRN^UI. quians. In general style there is a rather close correspondence with the sculptures of the Central American States. Some of the plastic characters exhibited in this work appear also in the various objects of clay, gold, and copper described further on. There is also a smaller, rudely carved, half length, human figure done in the same style. Besides these figures there are two large flatfish stones, on one of which a rude image of a monkey has been picked, while the other exhibits the figure of a reptile resembling a lizard or a crocodile. Tin 1 work is extremely rude and has the appearance of being unfinished. Tt seems that all of these objects were found upon the surface of the ground. In Figs. ; and 8 1 present two specimens of sculpture also collected by Mr. McNiel, and now in the possession of Mr. J. B. Stearns, of Short Hills. N. J. The example shown in Fig. 7 was obtained near the Gulf of Dolce, 9,2° 55' west. Three views are presented: profile, front. and back. It is carved from what appears to be a compact, grayish Fig. 7. A god of Hie ancient Chiriquians. Cray volcanic rock — }. olive tufa or basalt, and represents a male personage, distinct in style from the female figure first presented. The head is rounded above, the arms arc 1 flattened against the sides, and the feet are folded in a novel position beneath the body. The height is !> inches. The other specimen. Fig. s. from near the same locality, is carved from a yellowish gray basalt which sparkles with numerous large crystals of hornblende. It is similar in style to the last, but more boldly sculptured, the features being prominent and the members of the body in higher relief. The legs are lost. Height. 5} inches. holmes] mealing stones. 25 A remarkable figure of large size now in the National Museum was obtained from the Island of Cana or Cano by Mr. McNiel. It is a l> Fig. H. Fragmentary human figure in sray Itasaltic rook '. nearly three feel in height and very heavy. The face lias been mu- tilated. In general style it corresponds more closely to the sculpture of the Central American States than to that of Chiriqui. Mealing stones. — The nictate, or hand mill, which consists of a con- cave tablet and a rubbing stone, was an important adjunct to the household appliances of nearly all the more cultured American na- tions. It is found not only in those plain substantial forms most suitable for use in grinding grain, seeds, and spices by manual means. but in many cases it has been elaborated into a work of art which required long and skilled labor for its production. In the province of Chiriqui these mills must have been numerous; but, since i hey are still in demand by the inhabitants of the region, many of the ancient specimens have been destroyed by use. It seems from all accounts thai they were not very generally buried with the dead, but were left upon or near the surface of the gr< »und, and were hence accessible to the modern tribes, who found it much easier to transport them to their homes than to make new ones. The imitates of Chiriqui present a great diversity of form and pos- sibly represent distinct peoples or different grades of cult u re. Tiny are carved from volcanic rocks of a few closely related varieties, the texture of which is coarse and occasionally somewhat cellular. iri\ ' iii.tr an uneven or pitted surface, well suited to the ^rindim,' < ■ 1 ma Three (dasses. for convenience of description, may be di>t iiu, r ui-hee feet long, is inches wide, and \ m > inches high. A similar piece has been illustrated by De Zeltner. The usual office of these nictates is considered to be thai of grind- ing corn, cocoa, and the like The great elaboration observed in some examples suggests the idea that perhaps they were devoted exclusively to the preparation of material (meal or ot her substances) intended for sacred uses. A high degree of elaboration in art prod- ucts results in many cases from their connection with superstitious usages. Speculating upon the use of these objects, De Zeltner mentions ;i mortar '" whose pestle was nothing hut a round stone, which still shows traces of gold here and there. It was evident lv with the help of this rude instrument that the Indians reduced the gold to powder before fusing it."' The implement or pestle used in connection with these mealing tablets in crushing and grinding is often ;i simple river worn pebble. as mentioned above, but is more usuall\ a cylindrical mass of \ olc.-mic rock, worked into nearly symmetric shape. Stools. —The stool -like appearance of some of the objects described as nictates suggests the presentation in this pht< f a group > jects that must for the present be clashed as stool- or seats, although their true or entire function i- unknown to nie. Th«-\ are guished t'ron i the mealing stones by t heir circular plat. . theii defined, upright, marginal rim. ami the hImmmv of signs of u-e. Two of these object - are from t he \ icinit \ of | )a\ id. I he largest 1 A. !>>• Zeltnir : Note-, siir !»■- sepulture- imlieutie-. p. 7. 28 ANCIENT ART OF THE PROVINCE OF CHIRIOCT. and most interesting is illustrated in Fig. 11. It is carved from a piece of vesicular basaltic tufa and is in a perfect state of preservation. The height is 6 inches and the diameter of the top 10 inches, that of Fig. 1!. Stool shaped object carved from gray, minutely cellular basalt ■--,'.. the base being a little less. The slightly concave upper surface is depressed about half an inch below the upright marginal hand. The periphery is a little more than an inch in width and is decorated with a simple guilloche-like ornament in relief. The disk-like cap is con- nected by open lattice-like work with the ring which forms the base. Fig. 12. Stool with columnar base, carved from pray basaltic rock — |. The interior is neatly hollowed out. The open work of the sides con- sists of two elaborately carved figures of monkeys, alternating with two sections of trellis work, very neatly executed. The other specimen is somewhat less elaborate in its sculptured ornament CELTS. 2!) Outlines of two additional examples of these objects are given in Figs. 12 and 13. The tablets are round, thick, and slightly concave Fir;. 18. Stool with perforated base, carvel from jrray l>aHnlti<- rock- \. above and are margined with rows of sculptured heads. The sup- porting column in the first is a plain shaft and the bast- is narrow and somewhat concave underneath. In the second the column is hollowed out and perforated. As bearing upon the possible use of these specimens it should he noticed that similar stool-like objects are made of clay, the softness and fragility of which would render them unsuitable for use a- meal- ing plates or mortars, and it would also appeal- that they are rather fragile for use as stools. I would suggest that they may have served as supports for articles such as vases or idols employed in religious rites, or possibly as altars for offerings. ( V7/.s. — -The class of implements usually denominated celts is repre- sented by several hundred specimens, nearly all of which arc in a perfect state of preservation. They are thoroughly well made and beautifully finished, and leave the impression upon l he mind that they must represent the very highest plane of Stone Age art. Although varying widely in form and finish there is great homo- geneity of characters, the marked family resemblance suggesting a single people and a single period or stage of culture. They are found in the cists along with other relics ami are very generally distributed. ;• limited number, rarely more than three, being found in a single grave. They may be (dassi tied by shape into a number of gn nips, eai h of which, however, will be ton nd to grade more or less completely into the others. They display all degrees of finish from the freshly linked to the evenly picked and who|l\ polished surface. The edges or points of nearly all show t he contour and polish t hat come from Ion- though careful use. All are made of compact, dark. \ oleanic t uf.i ' ' r< sembles very closely a line grained slate. The following iih;-- include all the more important type- of form. There are hat \<\\ specimens of very large . Celt of hexagonal section made of dark i>ni|j.i<-i tufa - 1. Ki<; If, Small will.- i.l. ..!.-.] i-.il m.i-l. if .lark I Ufa |-il I ■'■•■ '- < dark -| kl-il lufa Two su perl > implements are illustrni.-.| in Ki--. in the rough exempting ni i In- eutt in- . ■.!-•■. \\ lifi ■• ■ ;' i- desire.l shape, ami the ..ili.-r in-atl\ |»..li-h.-int irk tufa calculated to unite delicacy and strength. The highest mechanical skill could hardly give to stone shapes more perfectly adapted to the I-ki. -,'l. I ..-at s)ia|*-.| .,l,|,-,ts su^'.-xtmir s|»-ar|Miinf;. ..f .lark tuf.i manipulat ion of stout, nirtnl. or other hard <»r compael sulislaners. The material is a very dark, compart, lim- u t;i i n- ■< 1 tufa. An additional example is given in Fig. •„':>. Tin- shaft i> rylindri- i; Kin •': 34 ANCIENT ART OF THE PROVINCE OF CHIRI^UI. cal and terminates in a conical point at one end and in a very narrow, abrupt, cutting edge at the other. The whole surface is polished. The material is the same dark tufa. The class of objects illustrated in this and the two preceding cuts comprises but a small percentage of the chisel-like implements. Spearheads (?). — Another class of objects made of the same fine grained, slaty looking tufa is illustrated in Fig. 2-1. They resemble spearpoints, yet may have been devoted to a wholly different use. They are long, leaf-like flakes, triangular in section, slightly worked down by flaking, sharpened by grinding at the point, and slightly notched at the top. perhaps for hafting. Arrowpoints. — The unique character of the arrowpoints of Chi- riqui is already known to archaeologists. The most striking feature is the triangular section presented in nearly all cases and shown in the figures (Fig. 25). The workmanship is extremely rude. The Fig. i"). Arrow-points of jasper— \. material is generally a flinty jasper of reddish and yellowish hues. The number found is comparatively small. The specimens given are of average size. Ornaments. — It would seem from a. study of our collections that ornaments of stone were seldom used by the inhabitants of Chiriqui. There are a l\>\v medium sized beads of agate and one pendant of dark greenish stone rudely shaped to resemble a human head. Orna- ments of gold and copper were evidently much preferred. holmes.] USE OF GOLD AND COPPER. 35 METAL. QOLD AND COPPER. The Chiriquians, like many of their neighbors in the tropical por- tions of the American continent, were skilled in the working of met- als. Gold, silver, copper, and tin — the last in alloys with copper form- ing bronze — are found in the graves. Gold is the most important, and is associated with all the others in alloys or as a surface coating. The inhabitants of the isthmus at the time of the discovery were rich in objects, chiefly ornaments, of this metal, and expeditions sent out under Balboa, Pizarro, and others plundered the natives without mercy. When the Indian village of Darien was captured by Balboa (1510) he obtained " plates of gold, such as they hang on their breasts and other parts, and other things, all of them amounting to ten thou- sand pesos of line gold." ' From an expedition to Nicaragua the same adventurers brought back to Panama the value of •• 1 r>..r.'4 pieces of eight in low gold, and 14") in pearls." 2 Early Spanish-American his- tory abounds in stories of this kind. Among others we read that ( lolumbus found the natives along the Atlantic coast of Chiriqui and Veragua so rich in objects of gold thai he named the district (V/.s- tillo del Oro. It is said that the illusory stories of an El Dorutltt somewhere within the continent of South America arose from the lavish use of gold ornaments by the natives whom the Spaniards en- countered, and that Costa Rica gets its name from the same circum- stance. It is also recorded that the natives of various parts < if ( Vn- tral and South America at the date of the conquest were in the habit of opening ancient graves for the purpose of securing mortuary trinkets. The whites have followed their example with the greatest eagerness. As far back as lt. America. Vd. V I . |>. '■'<>'■>. Heiiera: Hist. America. V..1. ill. |>. '.'*:. ; Mr. Mawes's letter aii'-werin;;- ipies! iiiii„ al" nil i 'liiriijui. reail I »\ Mr. I >,i \ i - I ■• t' 'i > the American l-'.t Inn >l< »::i. al S,„i,|\. \|,ril IT. I^iiu. l\Q ANCIENT ART OF THE PROVINCE OF CHIRIQUI. ing pot. Many stories bearing upon this point have been told me. A Washington jeweler is represented as having exhibited in his win- dow on Pennsylvania avenue about the year 1 800 a remarkable series of these trinkets, most of which were afterwards sent to New York to be melted. About the same period a gentleman on entering a shop in San Francisco was accosted by a stranger who had his pockets well filled with these curious relics and wished to dispose of them for cash. A number of my acquaintances have neat but grotesque examples of these little images of gold attached to their watch guards, thus ap- proving the taste of our prehistoric countrymen and at the same time demonstrating the identity of ideas of personal embellishment in all times and with all peoples. The ornaments are found only in a small percentage of the graves, those probably of persons sufficiently opulent to possess them in life; a majority of the graves contain none whatever. They are often found at the bottom of the pits, and probably in nearly the position occupied by them while still attached to the persons of the dead. It is said that occasionally they are found in niches at the sides of the graves, as if placed during the filling of the pit. Strangely enough, the gold is very generally alloyed with copper. the composite metal ranging from pure gold to pure copper. A small percentage of silver is also present in some of the specimens exam- ined, but this is probably a natural alloy. In a few cases very simple figures appear to have been shaped from nuggets or masses of the native metals; this, however, is not susceptible of proof. The work is very skillfully done, so that we find it difficult to ascertain the precise methods of manipulation. The general effect in the more pretentious pieces resembles that of our filigree work, in which the parts are produced by hammering and united by soldering; yet there are many evidences of casting, and these must be considered with care. As a rule simple figures and some portions of composite fig- ures present very decided indications of having been cast in molds. yet no traces of these molds have come to light, and there are none of those characteristic markings which result from the use of com- posite or "piece" molds. Wire was extensively used in the forma- tion of details of anatomy and embellishment, and its presence does not at first seem compatible with ordinary casting. This wire, or pseudo-wire it may be. is generally about one-twenty-fifth of ail inch in diameter. The manner in which the numerous parts or sections of complex figures are joined together is both interesting and perplexing. Evi- dences of the use of solder have been looked for in vain, and if such a medium was ever used it was identical in kind with the body of the object or so small in quantity as to escape detection. At the junction of the parts there are often decided indications of hammer- ing, or at least of the strong pressure of an implement; but in pur- holmes] USE OF GOLD AND COPPER. 37 suing the matter further we find a singular perfection in the joining, which amounts to a coalescence of the metals of the two parts con- cerned. There is no weakness or tendency to part along the contact surfaces, neither is there anything like the parting of parallel wires in coils or where a series of wires is joined side by side and canned through various convolutions. In a number of cases 1 made sections of coils and parts composed of a number of wires, in the hope of discovering evidences of the individuality of the strands, but the metal in the section is always homogeneous, breaking with a rough, granular fracture, and not more readily along apparent lines of junc- tion than across them; and further, in studying in detail the surface of parts unpolished or protected from wear by handling, we find everywhere the granular and pitted unevenness characteristic of cast surfaces. This is true of the wire forms as well as of the massive parts, and. in addition to this, such defects occur in the wires as would hardly be possible if they were of wrought gold. All points considered, 1 am inclined to believe that the objects were cast, and cast in their entirety. It is plain, however, that the original model was made up of separately constructed parts of wire or wire- like strands and of eccentric and often rather massive parts, and that all were set together by the assistance of pressure, the indications being that the material u^'(\ was sufficiently plastic to be worked after the manner of clay, dough, or wax. In one case, for example. the body of a serpent, consisting of two wires neatly twisted together, is held in the hand of a grotesque figure. The hand consists of four fingers made by doubling together two short pieces of wire. The coil has been laid across the hand and pressed down into it until half buried, and the ends of the fingers are drawn up around it without any indication of hammer strokes. Indeed, the effect is just such as would have been produced if the artist had worked in wax. Again, in the modeling of the eyes we have a good illustration. The eye is a minute ball cleft across the entire diameter by a sharp implement, thus giving the effect of the parted lids. Now. if the material had been gold or copper, as in the specimens, the ball would have been separated into two parts or hemispheres, which would not exhibit any great distortion; but as we see them here the parts are flattened and much drawn out by the pressure of the cutting edge, just as if the material had been decidedly plastic. It seems to me that the processes of manufacture must have been analogous to t hose employed by the more prim it i ve metal workers ol our own day. In Oriental countries delicate objects of bronze and other metals are made as follows: A model is constructed in some such material as wax or resin and over it are placed coatings of clay or other substance capable of standing great heat. These coat i jilts. when sufficiently thickened and properly dried, form the mold, from which the original model is extracted bv mean- of heat. The fused 38 ANCIENT ART OF THE PROVINCE OF CHIRIQUI. metal is afterwards poured in. As a matter of course, both the mold and the model are destroyed in each case, and exact duplications are not to lie expected. Mr. George F. Kunz, of New York, with whom I have discussed this matter, states that he has seen live objects, such as inseets. used as models in this way. Being coated with washes of clay or like substance until well protected and then heavily covered, they were placed in the furnace. The animal matter was thus reduced to ashes and extracted through small openings made for the purpose. As bearing upon this subject it should be mentioned that occa- sionally small figures in a tine reddish resin are obtained from the graves of Chiriqui. They are identical in style of modeling with thi' objects of gold and copper obtained from the same source. In discussing possible processes. Mr. William Hallock. of the divis- ion of chemistry and physics of the United States Geological Sur- vey, suggested that if the various sections of a metal ornament were embedded in the surface of a mass of fire clay in their proper rela- tions and contacts they could then be completely inclosed in the mass and subjected to heat until the metal melted and ran together. After cooling, the complete figure could be removed by breaking up the clay matrix. I imagine that in such work much difficulty would be experienced in securing proper contact and adjustment of parts of complex figures. It will likewise be observed that evidences of plasticity in the modeling material would not exist. I must not pass a suggestion of Nadaillac 1 which offers a possible solution of the problem of manipulation. Referring to a statement of the early Spanish explorers that smelting was unknown to the inhabitants of Peru, he states that it would be possible for a people in a low state of culture to discover that an amalgam of gold with mercury is quite plastic, and that after a figure is modeled in this composite metal the mercury may be dissipated by heat, leaving the form in gold, which then needs only to be polished. There is, however, no evidence whatever that these people had any knowledge of mercury. There is no indication of carving or engraving in the Chiriquian work. In finishing, some of the extremities seem to have been shaped by hammering. This was a mere flattening out of the feet or parts of the accessories, which required no particular skill and could have been accomplished with comparatively rude stone hammers. It is a remarkable fact that many, if not most, of the objects appear to be either plated or washed with pure gold, the body or foundation being of base gold or of nearly pure copper. This fact, coupled with that of the association of objects of bronze with the relics, leads us to in- quire carefully into the possibilities of European influence or agency. I observe that recent writers do not seem to have questioned the gen- uineness of the objects described by them, but that at the same time no mention is made of the plating or washing. This latter circumstance 1 Nadaillac: Prehistoric America, p. 450. holmes! USE OF GOLD AND C'OPPKR. 39 loads to the inference that pieces now in my possession exhibiting this phenomenon may have been tampered with by the whites. In this connection attention should be called to the fact that history is not silent on the matter of plating. The Indians of New Granada are said to have been not only marvelously skillful in the manipula- tion of metals, but, according to Bollaert, Acosta declares that these peoples had much gilt copper, "and the copper was gill by the use of the juice of a plant rubbed over it. then put into the fire, when it took the gold color." Just what this means we cannot readily de- termine, but we safely conclude that, whatever the process hinted at in these words, a thin surface deposit of pure gold, or the close semblance of it, was actually obtained. It is not impossible that an acid may have been applied which tended to destroy the copper of the alloy, leaving a deposit of gold upon the surface, which could afterwards be burnished down. It has been suggested to me that possibly the film of gold may in cases be the result of simple decay on the part of the copper of the alloy, the gold remaining as a shell upon the surface of the still un- decayed portion of the composite metal: but the surface in such a case would not be burnished, whereas the show surfaces of the spec- imens recovered are in all cases neatly polished. If we should conclude that the ancient Americans were probably able to secure in some such manner a thin film of gold, it still remains to inquire whether then? may not have been some purely mechanical means of plating. In some of the Chiriquian specimens a foundation of very base metal appears to have been plated with heavy sheet gold, which as the copper decays comes off in Hakes. Occasional pieces have a blistered look as a consequence. Were these people able with their rude appliances to beat gold into very thin leaves':' and Had they discovered processes by which these could be applied to the surfaces of objects of metal? are questions that should probably be answered in the aftirmal ive. The flakes in some cases indicate a very great degree of thinness. Specimens of sheet gold ornaments found in the tombs are thicker. but are sufficiently thin to indicate that, if actually made by these people, almost any degree of thinness could be attained by them. It would probably not be difficult to apply thin sheet gold to the com- paratively smooth surfaces of these ornaments and to fix it by bur- nishing. M r. Kunz suggests still another met hoi I by means of which plat mil; could have been accomplished. If a figure in wax werecnateil with sheet gold and t hen incased in a da \ mat rix. t he wax ci mid lie melted out. leaving the shell of gold within. The cavity on Id then be tilled with alloy. 1 he clay could be removed, and t lie gold, which Willi Id ad- here to the metal, could then be p roper I \ burnished down. Bollarrt: Ktliimli^ical ami < »tlnr I ,'.■-.« a n • 1 1.- in NVw < Jrana.la. vXc 40 ANCIENT ART OF THE PROVINCE OF CHIRIQUI. It will be seen from this hasty review that, although we may con- clude that casting and plating were certainly practiced by these peo- ples, we must remain in ignorance of the precise methods employed. Referring to the question of the authenticity of the specimens them- selves. 1 may note that observations bearing upon the actual discov- ery of particular specimens in the tombs are unfortunately lacking. Mr. MeXiel acknowledges that with all his experience in the work of excavation no single piece has been taken from the ground with his own hands, and he cannot say that he ever witnessed the exhumation by others, although lie has been present when they were brought up from the pits. Generally the workmen secrete them and afterwards offer them for sale. He has, however, no shadow of a doubt that all the pieces procured by him came from the graves as reported by his collectors. The question of the authenticity of the gilding will not be satisfactorily or finally settled until some responsible collector shall have taken the gilded objects with his own hands from their undis- turbed places in tombs known to be of pre-Columbian construction. There are many proofs, however, of the authenticity of the objects themselves. It is asserted by a number of early writers that the American natives were, on the arrival of the Spaniards, highly ac- complished in metallurgy; that they worked with blowpipes and cast in molds; that the objects produced exhibited a high order of skill; and that the native talent was directed with unusual force and uniformity toward the imitation of life forms. It is said that the conquerors were "struck with wonder" at their skill in this last respect. And a strong argument in favor of the genuineness of these objects is found in the fact that it is not at all probable that rich alloys of gold would have been used by Europeans for the base or foundation when copper or bronze, or even lead, would have served as well. We also observe that there is absolutely no trace of pecu- liarly European material or methods of manipulation, a condition hardly possible if the extensive reproductions were made by the whites. Neither are there traces of European ideas embodied in the shapes or in the decoration of the objects — a circumstance that argues strongly in favor of native origin. An equally convincing argument is found in the fact that all the alloys liable to corrosion exhibit marked evidences of decay, as if for a long period subject to the de- structive agents of the soil. In many cases the copper alloy base crumbles into black powder, leaving only the flakes of the plating. Lastly and most important, the strange creatures represented are in many cases identical with those embodied in clay and in stone, and for these latter works no one will for a moment claim a foreign derivation. Considering all these arguments. I arrive at the conclusion that the ornaments are. in the main, genuine antiquities, and that, if any deception at all has been practiced, it is to be laid at the door of modern HUMAN FIGURE IN COPI'KR->f ropjuT ;_'"M alloy. J. B. Stearns. It was obtained by Mr. MeXiel from near the south base of Mount Chiriqui. The body is solid and the surface is rough and pitted, as if from decay. In many respects it resembles the stone sculptures of the isthmus. The metal is nearly pure copper. A piece exhibiting more elaborate workmanship, illustrated by RoMaert. 1 is shown in Fig. '17. Another remarkable specimen is illustrated by |)e Zeltner, but the photograph published with his brochure is too indis- tinct to permit of satisfactory reproduction. He describes it in the f< (Mowing language: Tin* must curious piece in mv collection is a *_r< >1< 1 liirnre of a man. 7 < -rntiim t< r- in height. The head is ornamented *.*. itli a < i :;i- i« 1 1 1 teiniinatiil "ii each side with tli> head of a fro>£. The hmlv i^ mule, except a ejrdle, :iNo in the form i»f a plait. sitp- pei'lin^a tlat piece intended |iicm\c|" tlie pri v ad-, aiul t\M> round ornaments i>n 1 Bullae it : A nth planar i I lesea iches in New ( iranaila. plate facing p. III. 42 ANCIENT ART OF THE PROVINCE OF CHIRIQUI. each side. The arms arc extended from the body : the well drawn hands hold. one of them a short, round club, the other a musical instrument, of which one end is in the mouth and the other forms an enlargement like that of a flute, made of human Fir;. •,T. Grotesque human figure in K'->W- from Bollaert. bone. It is not probable that this is a pipe. Both thighs have an enlargement, and the toes are not marked in this little figurine. ' Fig. 28. Rudely shaped and finished human figure in gold. Ill Fig. 28 we have a rather rudely made and finished piece collected 'A. De Zeltner : Notes sur les sepultures iudiennes du departement de C'hiriqui. HUMAN FIGURE IN COPPER AND (ioIJ). 43 by Mr. McNiel, and now owned by Mr. Stearns. It exhibits features corresponding with a number of those referred to by De Zeltner. The foundation is thin and is of base metal coated with pure gold. I present two additional examples of the human figure from the col- lection of Mr. Stearns. One of them (Fig. •.'".») is an interesting little Fig. 29. Grotesque human figure in nearly pun- copper, partially eoate