Ernie,
I saw on your website as I was browsing today your email to send any pics to.
I found this years ago and wondered what it was. Tool of sorts? I came across your website and remembered I had some pics of my finding on my PC from years ago. I can get better pictures of it, but from these you can see the groove that runs don the entire piece. The other side is like a bowl and there is a notch on one side. Also there are what looks like cut marks to the right of the groove. Along with the picture I have some arrowheads I found along with it. I found these in Lay Lake in Shelby county Alabama. Any explanation on what this is would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks-Brian
I replied:
Brian
Can I make your letter and photos into a post? The little tool is very unique, but I'm sure that some of my friends will have and explanation of what it was used for.
Thank-you for sharing this with me!
Ernie
Sure thing Ernie. I took some pictures and put them in a compressed Zip file. I took these pictures yesterday. Not the most clear still but I think it is good enough. I sure hope someone has an idea. Thanks for the help
--Brian
The first photos were the best, so I posted them below.
Some of the things that the Indian people did with what nature provided them is just amazing to me.
What is it???
Posts
24 comments:
Ha! And to think, Oregon thought that I was either dead or having fun... He was right!
Sure, its for straightening arrows and tieing on fletching. The groove is used to make the arrows smooth as glass. Not sure of the tribe.
Looks like a groovy rock.
Oregon
Charlie Two Crows
Most of the arrow straighteners that I've seen have flat straight groves in them. This rock has the grove around the rock, not flat. Also, why is the rock hollow?
By your name, I'm going to assume that you know more about this than I do.
The arrows have to be tempered in fire. Women make the arrows. She set by fire stone goes on tip of small foot. Notch in side is to hold arrow while bending. I believe this is from florida. There is a piece missing. I think I have it in my pickup. I will email pix to ernie tomarrow. Charlie two crows.
Ernie, it was very nice to finally meet you. Sorry I missed Janice, though... & OMaR.
I don't know what your store looked like before but it certainly looks great now. Will be even nicer when you're done. Have fun, my friend.
Robin
What kind of stone material is the artifact made of?
I found this in Lay Lake Alabama. Shelby County near the town of Shelby Alabama. Looks to be granite, but I could be wrong.
--Brian
Here's a link to teach white eyes to make arrows.
How to make primitive arrows
Thanks Oregon.
Sorry to miss you Robin, Mr. Huff sent his regards along to you through me, you may have gotten them in person from him by now.
Thanks Brian. No expert here, particularly from a photo, but.... I would be surprised if it is a granite because carving such a concavity into the backside of a granite would be a powertool matter today. That is my lapidary perspective. Does charlie two crows know what kind of stone would be used back there? My first take was a serpentine because of its carvability, but I really don't know the geology of your area, or whether serpentine would be hard enough for the straightening of the areas charlie mentioned. Serpentine would have a waxy feel to the surface.
Just speculatin' here.
I spent some time in the Willow Creek Museum ( Calif. ) and looked at some bows and arrows, they didn't look like they had any special straightening to me. I will stick with my 270.
I was impressed though.
Oregon
I think, looking back, that I try to be a smartass but the folks that add to Ernie's blog are wonderful.
I sometimes forget that there are Indians that lived back East.
Oregon.
P.S. I sure wish the key word could be less than 4 letters. I ain't a Suzy Wonderful ya know.
At first "glance" I thought it was a tool for scraping the meat off of hides???
Oregon, What is a 270 ???
Ross
It's 27 bigger than a 243.
Dang it!
I wrote a real nice reply to Robin Shelley, and my blogsite ate it! I figur' that it didn't recognize me, being nice and all.
Anyway Robin, I was very glad to finally meet you in person. Sorry that I was so gushy, it was like finding a long lost friend. The next time that you show up I will be more reserved and polite. If you give me some notice I will arrange a pie and ice-cream brunch with Janis and Olmanriver and I.
It was nice of you to say that the store looks “great”, but I know how far we have to go to get it there. You may bring whoever you have with you, as long as they like pie and ice cream.
Ernie, if you were "gushy" I didn't notice. And please don't be "reserved" on my account - I love hugs! Pie & ice cream sounds good, too, but I should warn you: I know a lot people! (:
OMaR, so glad you got to meet Tim. He's been a dear friend to my family for as long as I can remember. Smart & funny with an interesting history/background of his own. (The FBI part makes some people nervous, though - LOL!) I haven't talked to him since you met. Hope you hit it off.
Love your latest post, Ernie. Can't wait to read more!
'night all!
Definitely an arrow straightener. A very good specimen. Nice find.
Dale Nulph
Garners of Weott grandson
Ernie, I was just Razzin Oregon a little. He made a comment one time,that my Dad worked up a great "load" for the 270 cartridge,back in the"day".
It's true Ross. I know of one person in Humboldt that still use's that load.
Oregon
Ok, as I mentioned before, I am no expert, but I am still having problems with the arrow straightener theory.
Look at the diameter of the groove as compared to a finger in the picture... awfully skinny little arrow don't you think? Maybe the man has huge hands which would put the groove at pencil thick, and that might be right for an arrow. If that is a normal sized hand...it is one thin arrow shaft that goes in that groove!
Secondly, it is a rounded shape... how would you straighten something on a convex surface?
Anybody want to discuss these notions?
My guess, because of the nature of the rock, the width of the groove, and the rounded surface, is that it is a tool used in making cordage.
Don't mean to offend those who know better, just wanted to share my observations...and get feedback.
Just a wild guess here, maybe this stone was used for conditioning sinew for bow strings. The cup side could be a reservoir for tallow.
Oregon
I like your guess better than mine Oregon.
At first "glance" I thought it was a tool,for scraping Hides!!!
Here is a picture of an arrow straightener from the Spyrock area, currently housed at the Phoebe Hearst Museum of Anthropology.
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