Any Idea what this is??

**Jarbacoagold** · Apr 21, 2010, 07:41 PM

This was found in the runoff creek from the old "Homestake" Gold mine in between Lead and Deadwood, South Dakota. It is made from bone, I posted in the what is it, they sent me here. It is 3" long and 3/4" wide.
I'd love to know, I had a guy that kept trying to buy it from me, But I wouldn't sell it.

**John G. Scoggins** · Apr 21, 2010, 07:52 PM

Possibly a foreshaft.How thick is the piece?

**Jarbacoagold** · Apr 21, 2010, 08:10 PM

Its maybe 3/16" thick with a natural curve to it on the smooth side. And Concaved on the rough side.

**Neogeo** · Apr 21, 2010, 08:15 PM

No sell no sell......lol....Larson can prolly tell ya..He seems to find some artifacts very simular to yours.....Great find!!!!

**The Grim Reaper** · Apr 21, 2010, 08:26 PM

Jarbacoagold, here is one identical to yours that I found on a Woodland site in southern Ohio. You can see the type of artifacts associated with it in the last picture. I think they were used to pry open Mussell Shells. They are definitely a tool of some kind.

**Jarbacoagold** · Apr 21, 2010, 08:32 PM

Do they have mussels in South Dakota?? It looks just like it....

**larson1951** · Apr 22, 2010, 07:26 AM

we call them bone spatulas or quill flatteners
prolly not for opening mussel shells they don't work for that, we tried it
most were used for making pottery
some for flattening porcupine quills
the ones that are all jagged on the sides were used for pressure flaking
I am sure they were used for other things but mostly pottery
you have a good one, don't sell it
they are made from buffalo ribs
most of the time they are broken when I find them
here are a few images of some with smooth sides and the other kind with the rough sides
I hope you don't mind these pics on your thread, just trying to help
larson