Saturday, July 16, 2011

STONE AGE IN NORTH AMERICA

Fig. 414. (S. 3-8.) Effigy of a whale. Andover collection. This stone was found near Fall River, Massachusetts. It appears to be an effigy of a whale. Numbers of rude effigies, more or less whale-like in character, are found along the Atlantic seaboard in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Fig. 415. (S. 1-2.) Bear effigy. Found near the corner of Essex and Boston Streets, Salem, Massachusetts, in 1830.

Fig. 479 A. Turtle pipe. Milwaukee Museum collection. This figure "is of grayish-brown steatite, 3inches long, 2 inches in its greatest width, and with a finely carved upper surface representing a turtle. The bowl is in the centre of the turtle's back, the stem hole is small, and was doubtless used without the addition of a detachable mouthpiece. The lower part of the body is flat, with no attempt to form either legs or tail." This specimen was discovered within the southern limits of the city of Milwaukee, and is believed to be one of two ceremonial pipes of turtle-form, so far found in Wisconsin.
"The turtle was an emblem of the Sioux, and from the frequent occurrence of its shell in graves must have been held in high esteem by the Indians; yet representations of it in stone are exceedingly rare."