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
Because of its unusual high polish and slightly oval surface, one cannot
well illustrate a tablet-like gorget which was found by Clarence B.
Moore in Washington County, Florida, in 1902. This is a remarkable
specimen, and although it is set down as having one surface flat and the
other convex, it would be more accurate to say that the flat or upper
surface is slightly hollow. The entire specimen is highly polished, so
much so that it has a glossy appearance. The specimen is broken. After
breaking it has been used, possibly by later Indians, for smoothing the
sinews or similar purposes, as there are grooves worn across its larger
diameter. These grooves almost obliterate the perforation. It is
possible, but not probable, that the specimen was a pipe of the monitor
type. There is a raised circular line still traceable, and this was
originally one inch in diameter. As this is in the centre of the object
at the broken end, where the specimen is one half inch thick, it is
possible that this may have been the base of the bowl.
[Illustration:
FIG. 327. (S. 1–2.) Unfinished problematical forms. From Georgia and
Alabama. Material: quartzite and sandstone. Phillips Academy
collection, Andover.
]
In the centre, to the right in Fig. 307, is half of a winged and
perforated or butterfly-shaped stone. Becoming broken, the maker ground
it until traces of the centre perforation had disappeared. Then he
perforated the stone on either side after the manner of the bird or
saddle stone. One should note that the stone is more polished on either
side of the perforation.
Another winged perforated “butterfly” stone was broken long ago, and the
Indian who found it drilled it at the top and wore it as an ornament.
All the edges and perforations carry patina and evince great age. This
is a very old specimen, and we may construct theories that the second
owner made of it an object entirely different from that intended through
the workmanship of the first.
[Illustration:
FIG. 328. (S. 1–2.) Four problematical forms and one slate spear-head,
from the collection of H. F. Burket, Findlay, Ohio. These specimens
were found in Hancock County, Ohio.
]
[Illustration:
FIG. 329. (S. 2–3.) Three specimens from Stephen Van Rensselaer’s
collection, Newark, New Jersey. These were found near Orange, New
Jersey, and are typical New Jersey specimens. The lower one has been
broken and is covered with patina, and appears to be a very old
specimen. These two lower ones are dark gray slate.
]
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