The stone age in North America, vol. 2 of 2Moorehead, Warren K. (Warren King)
History
The stone age in North America, vol. 2 of 2
Moorehead, Warren K. (Warren King)
Indians of North America -- Antiquities; Stone age -- North America
FIG. 476 _C_. (S. 1–2.) This beautiful little pipe is of a type
occasionally found in Pennsylvania and the Carolinas. It may not be
prehistoric. At any rate, it is an interesting specimen. Collection
of Dudley A. Martin, Duboistown, Pennsylvania.
]
Most of these tubular pipes are much larger at one end than the other,
corresponding to the bowl, which is more highly developed in later
forms. There is one in the Andover collection that was obtained from the
Hupa Indians of California about fifty years ago by an early settler.
The stem is round, made of redwood, and a stone ring surrounds the bowl.
The tobacco would of necessity have to be packed tightly when one smoked
such a pipe, unless, as has been reported, the smoker lay upon his back.
Fig. 457 is a roughly outlined and unfinished effigy pipe, which when
complete was intended to represent the head of some animal. In this we
have evidence of the method of work on the part of the maker. Instead of
the hand-hammer it would appear that a cutting-tool had been used. He
had begun to rim out the bowl on the top of the head, but the stem hole
is not yet in evidence.
[Illustration:
FIG. 477. (S. 1–1.) Eagle pipe. Clarence B. Moore. A superb pipe of
limestone representing an eagle. “This pipe, 4.6 inches in length,
carved with great spirit, is a worthy exemplar of the prehistoric
art of Moundville. The bird is represented on its back, the head
swung around to one side with the beak open and tongue extended.
Incidentally, it may be said that the ‘hump’ shown on the tongue by
the native artist, though somewhat exaggerated, is not imaginary, as
may be proved upon examination of an eagle. It may be that this
pipe, showing as it does the eagle lying on its back, its legs and
claws on the belly, represents the dead bird. By pulling out the
tongue of a dead eagle one would be certain to notice the ‘hump’;
hence the examination of a dead bird would have sufficed so far as
correct rendering on the pipe was concerned. On the other hand, the
‘hump’ on the tongue is plainly shown on pottery from Moundville,
where the eagle’s head is erect and the bird is evidently
represented as alive.”
]
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.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account