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
“Among the many interesting relics obtained from mounds and
burial-places in the Mississippi Valley are the engraved shell gorgets,
a number of which are now preserved in our museums. The most recent
addition to this class of objects was obtained by the National Museum
from Mr. C. A. Nelson of Eddyville, Lyon County, Kentucky, and comes
from a burial-place encountered in opening a stone-quarry near
Eddyville. It is a symmetric saucer-shaped gorget, Fig. 534, five inches
in diameter and made apparently from the expanded lip of a conch shell
(_Busycon perversum_). It is unusually well preserved, both faces
retaining something of the original high polish of the ornament. Two
perforations placed near the margin served as a means of suspension. The
back or convex side is quite plain, while the face is occupied by the
engraving of a human figure which extends entirely across the disc. It
will be seen by reference to the illustration that this figure is
practically identical in many respects with others already
published.[21] It is executed in firmly incised lines and is partially
inclosed by a border of nine concentric lines. The position of the
figure is that of a discus-thrower. The right hand holds a discoidal
object, the arm being thrown back as if in the act of casting the disc.
The left hand extends outward to the margin of the shell and firmly
grasps a wand-like object having plumes attached at the upper end, the
lower end being peculiarly marked, and bent inward across the border
lines. The face is turned to the left; the right knee is bent and rests
on the ground, while the left foot is set forward as it would be in the
act of casting the disc. The features are boldly outlined; the eye is
diamond-shaped, as is usual in the delineations of this character in the
mound region. A crest or crown representing the hair surmounts the head;
the lower lobe of the ear contains a disc from which falls a long
pendant ornament, and three lines representing paint or tattoo marks
extend across the cheek from the ear to the mouth. A bead necklace hangs
down over the chest and the legs and arms have encircling ornaments. The
lower part of the body is covered with an apron-like garment attached to
the waistband, and over this hangs what appears to be a pouch with
pendant ornaments. The moccasins are of the usual Indian type and are
well delineated. A study of this figure strongly suggests the idea that
it must represent a disc-thrower engaged, possibly, in playing the
well-known game of chunky.”
[Illustration:
FIG. 530. (S. 2–3.) Collection of J. T. Reeder, Houghton, Michigan.
]
Regarding Fig. 535 of Colonel Young’s collection, Professor Holmes
writes me, under date of March 28, 1910, as follows:—
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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