eserved in such
manner as to permit examination and study.

[Illustration: BUREAU OF ETHNOLOGY THIRTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT PL. II MAT
OF. SPLIT CANE.]

Through charring by the use of fire in burial rites, and by contact with
copper or preservative salts in burial caves, numerous pieces of cloth
and parts of costumes have come into our possession. One of the most
fertile sources of information has but recently been made available. The
ancient potter employed woven fabrics in handling, finishing, and
decorating pottery. From mounds, graves, and dwelling sites, all over
the country, vases and sherds are found covered with impressions of
these fabrics, and so well preserved that by taking casts in clay or wax
entirely satisfactory restorations are made. Something may be learned
from the recovery of implements of spinning and weaving, but up to this
time the only relics secured are a few rather rude spindle whorls.

I shall present in the following paragraphs such portions of the available
data as seem calculated to illustrate briefly and clearly the nature
of the ancient art.

FABRICS FROM CAVES AND SHELTERS.

At an early date in the history of the country reports began to find
their way into print relating to the discovery of mortuary fabrics in
caverns and shelters. Extracts from some of these publications may
be given.

From the writing of John Haywood historian of Tennessee, we have the
following:

In the spring of the year 1811, was found in a copperas cave
in Warren county, in West Tennessee, about 15 miles southwest
from Sparta, and 20 from McMinnville, the bodies of two human
beings, which had been covered by the dirt or ore from which
copperas was made. One of these persons was a male, the other
a female. They were interred in baskets, made of cane,
curiously wrought, and evidencing great mechanic skill. They
were both dislocated at the hip joint, and were placed erect
in the baskets, with a covering made of cane to fit the
baskets in which they were placed. The flesh of these persons
was entire and undecayed, of a brown dryish colour, produced
by time, the flesh having adhered closely to the bones and
sinews. Around the female, next her body, was placed a well
dressed deer skin. Next to this was placed a rug, very
curiously wrought, of the bark of a tree and feathers. The
bark seemed to have been formed of small strands well
twisted. Aro