The Swastika
Forms Allied to the Swastika
The spiral Swastika form appears painted upon the pottery from Arkansas. The specimens shown in fig. 294 (1) is a tripod bottle. The decoration upon the
side
of the body consists of two lines forming the cross, and the four arms
expand in volutes until the ornament covers one-third of the vessel, which,
with the other two similar ornaments, extend around the circumference.
This decoration is painted in red and white colors on a gray or yellowish
ground. Fig. 295 shows a bowl
from mound No. 2, Thorn's farm, Taylor Shanty group, Mark Tree, Poinesett
County, Ark. It is then inches wide and six inches high. The clay of which
it is made forms the body color --- light gray. It has been painted red
or maroon on the outside without any decoration, while on the inside is
painted with the same color a five-armed cross, spirally arranged in volutes
turning to the right. The center of the cross is at the bottom of the
bowl, and the painted spiral lines extend over the bottom and up the sides
to the rim of the bowl, 
the
interior being. Entirely covered with the design. Another example of the
same style of decoration is seen on the upper surface of an ancient vase
from the province of Cibola. (2)
The specimen shown in fig. 296 is from the mound at Arkansas Post, in the county and State of Arkansas. (3) It represents a vase of black ware, painted a yellowish ground, with a red spiral scroll. Its diameter is 5 ½ inches. These spiral figures are not uncommon in the localities heretofore indicated as showing the normal Swastika. Figs. 297 and 298 (4) show parallel incised lines of the same style as those
ENDNOTES:
1. Fourth Ann. Rep. Bureau of Ethnology, 1882-83, fig. 442. [Back]
2. Fourth Ann. Rep. Bureau of Ethnology, 1882-83, p. 343, fig. 331. Back
3. Third Ann. Rep. Bureau of Ethnology, 1881-82, fig. 165. Back
4. Ibid., pp. 502, 503, figs. 186, 180. Back
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