Small effigy pipe my friend found (Updated Info)

[Steve in PA]

Thought some of you would like to see this pipe my friend found in a plowed field on the outskirts of Ligonier, PA about 15 years ago. He was in a field we all walked as kids, but none of us ever found anything like this before. He took it to the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh and they identified the type of stone it was made from and how old it was. I don't remember these details, but I can find out if anyone is interested. I just have these pictures he sent me.

I guess it just proves that these kind of artifacts can be found in fields if you're lucky.

I spoke to my buddy who found the pipe today. He said the archaeologist at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History here in Pittsburgh told him the pipe was made from an oolitic material, probably from Ohio. He also said it was "late prehistoric", about 1000 years old. My buddy believes it is a "mask" effigy because when you look at it from the side view it appears that there is a larger facial feature that is defined by a scribed line around the back edge of the raised "mask".

[musky44]

that is beautiful!!! WOW

[Felinepeachy]

THAT IS FANTASTIC!! I wonder what they smoked in it?

[hombre_de_plata_flaco]

That is REALLY cool!

[Steve in PA]

THAT IS FANTASTIC!! I wonder what they smoked in it?

I don't know, but it was all legal back then

[Tnmountains]

Nice !!

[The Grim Reaper]

Awesome Effigy Pipe your friend found Steve. Does he still have it, I hope?

I'd be willing to bet it's a Hopewell type Pipe since they were really big on Human and Animal Effigies in their Pipes. I hope your friend realizes just how rare of a find this is and keeps it and if does ever sell it he gets top dollar for it. A Pipe like that could possibly bring thousands of dollars for it.

[ohioaxeman]

Steve (of PA).. Definately retrieve the details of that find! Exceptional find for your friend! I agree with SRV on the value of that! Pieces like that keep us all mud deep and falling over like Peachy!

[ohioaxeman]

THAT IS FANTASTIC!! I wonder what they smoked in it?

Tobacco of course! Do you think the good stuff was even known back then?

[rob.s]

Wow!!Very neat find and please more details from your friend.

[Th3rty7]

They were puffing on the wacky tobbacky no doubt...what a piece, I'd need a fresh pair of pants if I stumbled across that killer pipe.

[trikikiwi]

That is awesome
It looks like soapstone, to me.

Cheers, Mike

[Steve in PA]

Awesome Effigy Pipe your friend found Steve. Does he still have it, I hope?

I'd be willing to bet it's a Hopewell type Pipe since they were really big on Human and Animal Effigies in their Pipes. I hope your friend realizes just how rare of a find this is and keeps it and if does ever sell it he gets top dollar for it. A Pipe like that could possibly bring thousands of dollars for it.

Oh he definitely still has it. It's in a display with other Native American artifacts that he's found. I've seen it many times and I know exactly where he found it. I know it is not soapstone, but I don't remember the name of the stone that the museum said it was made from. I sent him an e-mail with a link to this post, and will update this post as soon as I hear back from him.

[joshuaream]

That is a spectacular relic. It's the kind of piece that would be center frame in any collection.

I would guess Mississippian period.

[Hutch in PA]

As a guy who spends his fair share of time walking fields not to far from you and your friend...I am amazed. By far the nicest piece I have ever seen in this area.

[choo]

That is a awesome pipe it is probably a Hopewell pipe.

[The Grim Reaper]

So if it's a thousand years old that would put it in the late Woodland range and probably associated with the Monogahela culture of that area. I can see what you mean about it representing a mask now that you mention it. Very cool.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monongahela_culture

[Steve in PA]

So if it's a thousand years old that would put it in the late Woodland range and probably associated with the Monogahela culture of that area. I can see what you mean about it representing a mask now that you mention it. Very cool.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monongahela_culture

I am familiar with the Mononhahela culture to some extent. My brother worked as a contract archaeologist on a dig at a Monongahela site near New Stanton, PA back in the mid 1990's. They believe this site was the abandoned village mentioned by members of the Braddock expedition against Fort Duquesne in 1755. Braddock's road passed right next to this site. I was also thinking this pipe fit into their time frame.

[ohioaxeman]

So, from my research, oolitic is a limestone!