a few pieces and some road pictures

[larson1951]

first a few things my friend picked over noon hour the other day
next a piece of a buffalo rib which may have been something since it looks like it might have some tally marks on it
it might just be a piece of junk also since the marks could have been from a flint or chert knife when the meat was cut from it
and last a few images of the road, i find things on the road sometimes
steve

[flintdigger]

Very interesting photos Steve, I guess the piece of bone with the hole in it is a necklace or bracelett piece is that correct. The bone with the marks is interesting it look's like it could be tally marks to me those are some good looking awls and that is a great point. That road look's like s pretty good plsce to look.

[1AB Hunter]

Love those amber colored points you find out there Nice finds

[larson1951]

thanks flint digger, the piece w/the hole in it is a bead made from mussel shell from the missouri river, the shells were used for beads and ornaments and they were also crushed into fine powder and mixed with clay and ash to make pottery

thanks 1ABhunter, the point is made from Knife river flint (KRF) which exists in many shades from light to almost black
the 2 drills and the scraper are also made from KRF
steve

[olroy70]

Flintdigger,

I think the 3rd pic down is a coo marker. (sure wished I knew how to spell that)

[larson1951]

thanks olroy70,
yes i know what you mean, do you mean 'coo stick' ? the coo sticks i have seen were made from split ribs, but anything is possible

also Flintdigger, i am sorry i thought you were looking at the shell bead
the bone thing with the hole in it is a bracelet end made from a piece of split Elk antler which was boiled in buffalo fat to get the radius to form
these were made from elk antler and one antler yielded many of these pieces which were then drilled and completed into bracelets
i find several of these each year but have never found a complete one as they are very delicate
it must have taken a very thin drill to make that hole
sorry for the mix up
thank you for your interest in these Mandan artifacts
steve

[olroy70]

To a lot of Indians, it was as important to count coup as it was to be in war............ as in, to run close enough to someone to touch them, and get away

[flintdigger]

Steve, Does the drilled piece show any sign of polishing ? Have any pieves you have found showed any sign of polishing ? Very interesting.

[ShieldJaguar]

I don't know how you get any work done. I would be out in the fields sun up to sun down, head to the ground. Sooo awesome!

[larson1951]

fintdigger, yes very much polished
would you like me to post a picture of some more of these bracelet ends?.............and the piece left over when the elk horn was spent and it was made into a big awl or perforating tool?
olroy70, your'e right it's coup not coo
steve

[flintdigger]

If you have a photo handy go ahead and post it, it would be interesting to see.

[The Grim Reaper]

Great looking finds and pictures as usual my friend. I could spend hours on my hands and knees crawling through your fields and your road. Just an awesome looking site buddy.

Thanks for sharing these with us and glad to see your weather has finally broken so you can get out into your fields.

[Jonzer]

Awesome pics Steve.
I was crawlin around on my belly just looking at your pics. lol.
Arf!

[ohioaxeman]

I don't know how you get any work done. I would be out in the fields sun up to sun down, head to the ground. Sooo awesome!

Totally agree!!!!!!

[naturegirl]

I feel like I'm hunting when I look at your pictures lars, my eyes, my eyes!

Here's a bronze of my boss's, John Free Sr, he originaly called it "counting coup" but too many people thought it potrayed an Osage taking a scalp, so he renamed it "Osage in Enemy Camp" it's a stock picture, not sure what size it's gonna be. It's one of my favorite's of John's work.

[Fla-Gal]

Glad it has warmed enough for you to find and share these treasures with us---and, to educate us at the same time.
Keep your camera 'ready' for the next field trip...