I'd like you to take at look at what I believe to be two stone moccasin lasts (effectively shoe forms). Searching the web, I can find little in the way of confirmation that such a thing exists. Some say that such things are merely rocks that happen to be foot shaped, while others say that too many are found at known artifact sites to be a coincidence. None of the pictures I have seen of these come anywhere close to being as good as these. One of them is so perfect, that it seems unmistakable. The other one, found at the same private site in MN, is not as well formed as the first, but is virtually the same design. These two items were found along with a celt and other clearly identifiable and unmistakable stone artifacts. Given these facts, I think this is the real deal, and if so, may be extremely rare.
Generally, the shape is spot on with a shoe last. However, I notice the narrowing above the heal area, and found that to be strange and out of a natural foot shape. Then it occurred to me that a narrowing at that point would make it far easier to remove once a moccasin was finished. You could reach into the opening in a moccasin and grasped the narrow area easily with a thumb and finger to pull it out. Food for thought. The second, lighter colored one, has good shape on top, though not as smooth, but is a bit bulbous on the bottom. The top is a little bumpy as if it has been worked, whereas the bulbous bottom has a smoother more natural feel. I'm not sure what to think of that. Maybe it was close enough, or maybe this one wasn't finished, or maybe these were primarily used to form the top and sides of the moccasins, or maybe these are just shockingly last-like shaped rocks.
Please see for yourself and I'd love to hear your thoughts on these two items.
For comparison, here is a more modern shoe last..
Generally, the shape is spot on with a shoe last. However, I notice the narrowing above the heal area, and found that to be strange and out of a natural foot shape. Then it occurred to me that a narrowing at that point would make it far easier to remove once a moccasin was finished. You could reach into the opening in a moccasin and grasped the narrow area easily with a thumb and finger to pull it out. Food for thought. The second, lighter colored one, has good shape on top, though not as smooth, but is a bit bulbous on the bottom. The top is a little bumpy as if it has been worked, whereas the bulbous bottom has a smoother more natural feel. I'm not sure what to think of that. Maybe it was close enough, or maybe this one wasn't finished, or maybe these were primarily used to form the top and sides of the moccasins, or maybe these are just shockingly last-like shaped rocks.
Please see for yourself and I'd love to hear your thoughts on these two items.
For comparison, here is a more modern shoe last..
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