Their designs
showed a decided advance, too, even some simple decoration being
attempted."
"All that was in Europe, I suppose," Theo ventured shyly.
"By no means," replied Mr. Croyden. "On the contrary, we have found in
our own hemisphere specimens of this prehistoric pottery. In some
cases baskets of twigs were woven and lined with clay, after which
they were baked in the fire and the twigs burned off. Other pieces
were built up from coils of clay wound round and round, and when
partly hardened these were worked together with a tool in order that
the cracks might be filled. All through the western part of our
country have been found clay relics of various early tribes of
Indians; and in some places are giant mounds in which have been buried
all sorts of crude clay jugs and bowls. Since these primal peoples
used for materials the natural clays and earths they succeeded in
producing some excellent colors, too."
Mr. Croyden paused.
"Was the potter's wheel in use then?" questioned Dr. Swift.
"Probably not. There is no trace of it in this early work. It is not
until the historic age that we have the potter's wheel, the oldest and
first mechanical device mentioned in history.
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