The stone age in North America, vol. 1 of 2Moorehead, Warren K. (Warren King)
History
The stone age in North America, vol. 1 of 2
Moorehead, Warren K. (Warren King)
Indians of North America -- Antiquities; Stone age -- North America
FIG. 324. (S. 1–3.) Four winged, unfinished, problematical forms from
various parts of the country. Material: highly banded slate.
Phillips Academy collection. Two of these were collected by Albert
L. Addis, of Albion, Indiana. The upper one at the right is
interesting in that it has been perforated, as if worn for
suspension in the unfinished stage. Such use is frequently noted in
these objects and is to me an indication of great age, that they
were done by a certain individual, lost, afterwards found by another
individual, an unknown length of time intervening, and perforated.
This, being of the winged type, seems too heavy to be worn suspended
as an ornament, yet the perforation seems to indicate that purpose.
The perforation is different from that ordinarily seen in winged
objects, being at right angles to the faces instead of parallel to
them.
]
In the lower right-hand corner of Fig. 307 is a perforated steatite
object from Ohio. It has been broken and afterwards worn as an ornament.
The former perforations show on either end. Steatite being foreign to
Ohio may account for the fact that so rude an implement had been again
made use of as an ornament. It was originally rather long, possibly over
five inches.
[Illustration:
FIG. 325. (S. 1–3.) A large double-winged problematical form, roughly
broken out, dark gray slate. The unusual size of this object makes
it very interesting. It is about two thirds of an inch in thickness.
It was found by a farmer near the home of Mr. Addis, Albion,
Indiana, to whom the museum of Andover is indebted for a number of
fine specimens of the problematical class.
]
In the Andover collection are many interesting broken gorgets. In some
instances the maker has attempted to repair them, but it is also quite
evident that in others some one drilled additional perforations in order
that the gorgets might be again worn as ornaments. In the lower
left-hand corner of Fig. 307 is another broken winged object. Had the
native wished it to hang with the heavier part downwards he would have
drilled in the small or narrow end rather than along the broad end.
Moreover, the drilling is where the break occurred. In one instance,
Fig. 302, the specimen is so perforated that it was possible to tie the
ends together. This indicates that these things were greatly prized.
[Illustration:
FIG. 326. (S. about 3–5.) Large, unfinished, winged object of
fine-grained, highly banded slate. This shows the specimen at a
stage when the pecking and grinding are completed and the object is
partly polished. After further rubbing, the specimen would be
perforated through the centre, and the edges further ground down.
Collection of J. E. McLain, Bluffton, Indiana.
]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account