Hardstone & Slate Artifacts

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Birdstones

BIRDSTONES

By William S. Koup, G.I.R.S. Associate EditorAnd Richard Sisson, G.I.R.S. MemberWith Contributions by Steve Fuller, G.I.R.S. Member For over 150 years, birdstones have been objects that have inspired great passion,

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Definition Of Birdstone Eyes

The majority of birdstones were made without eyes. A rough estimate would be that only about one-third of all birdstones have some form of eyes. However, those birdstones that do

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Birdstone Materials

Ferruginous Slate The term ferruginous slate has been affixed to birdstones having been made from fine-grained, striated or banded material similar to banded slate but often more colorful and certainly

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Fraudulent Birdstones

Pictured on this page are eight fraudulent birdstones made from porphyry and other hardstone materials. Which fake did you select on page 19 as having a shot at being authentic?

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Birdstone Theories

by Conrad Kilian, The Dalles, Oregon Originally Published in the Central States Archaeological Journal, Vol.52, No.3, pg.126 Originally Published in the Central States Archaeological Journal, Vol.52, No.4, pg..195 Forward: After

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gorgets & pendants

Pendants and Gorgets

Bill Koup, Albuquerque, New Mexico Personal adornment has always been an important pursuit of mankind. The wearing of specialized adornments for the purpose of appearing more attractive or to signify

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axes

Two Keokuk Axes from Illinois

by Mike Wayland, San Jose, Illinois Originally Published in the Central States Archaeological Journal, Vol.57, No.2, pg.68 Hunting has always been good in our area. Many years ago my father-in-law,

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The Southeastern Monolithic Axe

The Southeastern Monolithic Axe Tim Brawner, Dothan, Alabama The apex of the Woodland Period sparked the development of the great chiefdoms of the Missis­sippian. During this period the Southeastern Ceremonial

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celts

A Large Hopewell Copper Celt

by Billy Ford, Spencerville, Ohio Originally Published in the Central States Archaeological Journal, Vol.56, No.4, pg.200 Originally Published in the Central States Archaeological Journal, Vol.57, No.3, pg.134 More than eighty

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other stones and artifacts

Plummets

By Ben Thompson Kirkwood MO. Reprinted from the Central States Archaeological Journal April 1975    Why such a name? The name plummet is applied because of the similarity of many specimens

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Michigan Archaic Stemmed Lanceolates

by Todd Walterspaugh, Galesburg, Michigan Originally Published in the Central States Archaeological Journal, Vol.56, No.4, pg.200 Originally Published in the Central States Archaeological Journal, Vol.57, No.2, pg.94 This group of

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What is it?

by Bob Reeves, Knoxville, Tennessee Originally Published in the Central States Archaeological Journal, Vol.57, No.2, pg.97 Back in October of 1982, I was hunting Indian relics along the shores of

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Nutting Stones

by Jim Maus, Advance, North Carolina Originally Published in the Central States Archaeological Journal, Vol.55, No.2, pg.62 Nuts! Nuts! Nuts! We like them because they are crunchy and they taste

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Circle Roller Discoidals

Bruce Butts, Winterville, Georgia An assortment of circle roller discoidals found in Georgia and Alabama. Top left: green granite discoidal found in Baldwin County, Georgia. Front left: polished golden quartz

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Pestles & Hammerstones

John Duncan, French Lick, Indiana These were everyday tools of the natives. The pestles were used for grinding and mashing things such as grain for flour. The hammerstone was used

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What’s in a Spool?

by D. R. Gehlbach, Columbus, Ohio Originally Published in the Central States Archaeological Journal, Vol.52, No.4, pg.202 On occasion, certain artifacts resist our attempts at interpretation. Such is the case

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Waco Sinkers

by Dr. Charles L. Boyd, College Station, Texas Originally Published in the Central States Archaeological Journal, Vol.53, No.2, pg.71 A group of unique artifacts were found in central Texas by

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spuds & spats

A Rat Tail Spud, My Rarest Artifact

by Jim Maus, Adva nce, North Carolina Originally Published in the Central States Archaeological Journal, Vol.55, No.3, pg.140 During the time that we call the South­eastern Ceremonial Complex or Mississippi­an

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Long-Stemmed Spuds

Toney Aid, West Plains, Missouri Take an ungrooved celt, polish it, stretch it (up to two feet long), flare the bit slightly and what have you got? A long-stemmed spud!

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discoidals

Ancient Mississippian Pastimes

by E. J. Neiburger, Waukegan, Illinois Originally Published in the Central States Archaeological Journal, Vol.57, No.4, pg.188 George Catlin painting of Mandan Indians playing Chunke in 1832, showing the game

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