. Bulletin. Ethnology. 64 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 64 alligator effigy shown in figure 18. This animal is 15^ inches in length from the snout to the tip of the tail. The interior is hollow, and in the center of the dorsal region is a circular opening 3^ inches in diam- eter, surrounded by a rim 1^ inches high and covered by a saucer- Hke lid.' Within the widely opened jaws is seen a human face, hav- ing at each corner of the mouth a small pottery disk, and in the ears two large circular ear plugs.^ Between the eyes of the alligator are two claw-like horns, 1 inch in length, each ter
. Bulletin. Ethnology. 64 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 64 alligator effigy shown in figure 18. This animal is 15^ inches in length from the snout to the tip of the tail. The interior is hollow, and in the center of the dorsal region is a circular opening 3^ inches in diam- eter, surrounded by a rim 1^ inches high and covered by a saucer- Hke lid.' Within the widely opened jaws is seen a human face, hav- ing at each corner of the mouth a small pottery disk, and in the ears two large circular ear plugs.^ Between the eyes of the alligator are two claw-like horns, 1 inch in length, each terminating in three curved prongs, which point forward. Within tlie body were found two small perforated beads of polished jade. The inside of the jaws is colored red; the whole of the body, together with the head and limbs, is brown; the forehead and cheeks of the face held between the animal's jaws are colored blue; the nose, mouth, and chin, llii^alor fcjLuid in Mound No. 2. This is by far the largest and most carefully modeled of the pottery figurmes found at Santa Rita, the smallest detail having received careful attention, and the scales, claws, and teeth being separately and accurately formed.^ The fourth and deepest layer was 2J feet 1 These large round ear plugs seem to have been universally worn; they are found in the paintings, on figurines, and on the incensarios. The plug may be funnel shaped or flat, plain, or decorated with a stud, rosette, or tassel. Describing the ear ornaments worn by the Itzas, Villagutierre says: "Si bien muchos de ellos rayadas las caras, y abujereadas las orejas. . Y que algunos Indios traian puestas, en las orejas que traia, vnas Rosas de Plata, y otros las traian de Oro; y otros de Oro, y ;—VttLAGUTiERKE, op. cit., pp. 402-403. Landa, speaking of the Maya women, says: "Horadavanse las orejas, para ponerse zarzilloa al modo de sus ;—Landa, op. cit., p. 182. 2 Figurines of animals with h
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectethnolo, bookyear1901
