Bone Needle or jewelry Perhaps?

[Airborne80]

Ok… as a matter of background…. The site that I recovered this item from is a known Indian, summer fishing campsite that has seen use from early prehistoric man, through all ages of Indians and into the civil war. I find many very recognizable points, pipes, etc. and many many debatable rough stone spear points and such. In this case, I have a catfish barb with a hole at one end. What makes me think that this might be a tool, needle or jewelry piece, is that it is unlike the many many barbs that I find all of the time. Here is how. All of the other barbs are serrated along the edge and have no hole on the end. They are also a darker color and not nearly as rigid as this. You can bend the others, bot not this one. It’s barbs have been sanded away, its very hard and the hole appears to be man made. I know that the cell phone photos are not high quality and apologize for that but… you can still see my “point’ so to speak haha. Anyway… I included a photo of it alongside of another similar barb so that you can see the differences. Any thoughts or opinions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks for looking.

[creek astronaut]

thats pretty cool looking,not in my realm of expertise.I did just see something similar on another link,if i get time i will put it up here for you,gotta go creekn!bet you dorkfish or larson1951 can help you out on this.thx for posting pics

[Airborne80]

thats pretty cool looking,not in my realm of expertise.I did just see something similar on another link,if i get time i will put it up here for you,gotta go creekn!bet you dorkfish or larson1951 can help you out on this.thx for posting pics

Thanks greg. I appreciate your comments and if you do happen upon that site... I am bigtime interested. good luck on the hunt. Stay safe.

[larson1951]

it is a needle made from the leading pectoral spike on the fin of a catfish (a catfish has two of these)
they are located behind the gill cover on the right and left side
I have found quite a few
a lot of them have the barbs polished off
the hole is natural

[Airborne80]

it is a needle made from the leading pectoral spike on the fin of a catfish (a catfish has two of these)
they are located behind the gill cover on the right and left side
I have found quite a few
a lot of them have the barbs polished off
the hole is natural

Wow. Thanks a lot Larson. I greatly appreciate your information. I am wondering though... if the hole is natural... how can I be sure that this was used as a needle? Is it because the barbs are polished off? Thanks again

[larson1951]

we will never know exactly
but I am sure it was a perforating tool of some sort

[Airborne80]

we will never know exactly
but I am sure it was a perforating tool of some sort

Roger that brother. Thats the frustrating part of this "Hobby"... the fact that in many cases, we just have to accept that we may never know. I agree with you though and know just by the feel of this one (as opposed to the others I find) that its a worked item and was used for something. Maybe even a tooth pick hahaha.

[The Grim Reaper]

larson is correct in one aspect. It is a bone form a catfish, but I doubt it was used as a needle. Like you said in your first post. it is a know fishing village spot so it would be natural for these bones to be there.

[Tnmountains]

larson is correct in one aspect. It is a bone form a catfish, but I doubt it was used as a needle. Like you said in your first post. it is a know fishing village spot so it would be natural for these bones to be there.

It is not uncommon to find the bones like you have along the river without the barbs. I agree with dorkfish that it is just a bone. We often have wished them to be more as well
TnMountains

[Airborne80]

larson is correct in one aspect. It is a bone form a catfish, but I doubt it was used as a needle. Like you said in your first post. it is a know fishing village spot so it would be natural for these bones to be there.

Excellent point. I do find a ton of them at this site. The only reason this one caught my attention was the differences outlined in the description. Thanks for the post

[Airborne80]

larson is correct in one aspect. It is a bone form a catfish, but I doubt it was used as a needle. Like you said in your first post. it is a know fishing village spot so it would be natural for these bones to be there.

It is not uncommon to find the bones like you have along the river without the barbs. I agree with dorkfish that it is just a bone. We often have wished them to be more as well
TnMountains

hahaha... yep.... you are 100% right! If all of the items were what I wished that they were, I would own my own museum hahaha. better safe than sorry, so i wanted some outside opinions before i chucked this thing into the old trash bag. Thanks for the post

[Tnmountains]

Airborne I bring buckets of junk home,,lol. I see those all the time and pick every one up also and look at it. I think they did use them sometimes like an awl. Who knows>>?? Its nice to see someone else picking them up
Take care, good post just read your other one also about the one shoulder points..

[Airborne80]

Airborne I bring buckets of junk home,,lol. I see those all the time and pick every one up also and look at it. I think they did use them sometimes like an awl. Who knows>>?? Its nice to see someone else picking them up
Take care, good post just read your other one also about the one shoulder points..

Thanks TM. Yea.... I can see them being used to punch through hides or even an earlobe if needed. I always appreciate your thoughts brother.

[ohioaxeman]

maybe it was used for tattooing! hard to tell from the photo's, but is the tip angular or rounded?

[Airborne80]

maybe it was used for tattooing! hard to tell from the photo's, but is the tip angular or rounded?

Interesting idea. The tip is more angular than rounded.