Hopewell Figurine Head

[scuba1970]

Found this today on a hopewell site I hunt. Is a figurine head that looks to be of grit temp pottery. Site has produced some neat stuff in past but this is best so far.

 

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[stlcardinalsfan]

cool, we just covered hopewell in north american indians class at college

 

[scuba1970]

Very interesting culture. This sites in IL about 1.5 hrs east of St Louis. I've found obsidian fragments, galena and mica parts there too. Haven't done it yet but plan on taking my metal detector there to see if can find some copper stuff

 

[Rege-PA]

By all means take your detector, but limit the discrimination to all metal mode. The Hopewell were into the exotic and iron meteorites were used in some of their ear spools etc. Plus copper, and lead.
Great find on the figurine, your lucky to have such an interesting site.

 

[Charl]

Excellent find. Wonder what the critter is...

 

[scuba1970]

My boys think looks like a squirrel. Hope I can find more

 

[rock]

What are your thoughts on this scuba? Its made from pottery. Yours is very interesting.

 

[monsterrack]

That is way cool of a find

 

[scuba1970]

What are your thoughts on this scuba? Its made from pottery. Yours is very interesting.

Does look squirrelish. Remnant of an ear is high on head but has kind of headpiece or hair design above brow like human. But on other turn mouth area reminds me of small critter. Animal/human mix Lol literally just passed a big ole red squirrel on road and looked like it.

When found looked like a clay ball and just put in pocket. After cleaning off my youngest, 6 said hey dad it's a head! Well ill be... Sure was

 

[scuba1970]

What are your thoughts on this scuba? Its made from pottery. Yours is very interesting.

I saw your post and first thing I saw was a face. Definitely looks to be a head also. What area of country was it found? It's neat.

 

[rock]

I guess they did mix human with animal in their carvings at times. I just noticed mine while cleaning it and thought it looked like ear spools on the sides like from the Mississippian period which is what most of my pottery is. Thank you, rock

 

[scuba1970]

I guess they did mix human with animal in their carvings at times. I just noticed mine while cleaning it and thought it looked like ear spools on the sides like from the Mississippian period which is what most of my pottery is. Thank you, rock

Does look Mississippian and either salvaged off a pot anciently as a toy or just as is. Is it shell tempered?

 

[rock]

Does look Mississippian and either salvaged off a pot anciently as a toy or just as is. Is it shell tempered?

It has mica and tiny white pieces in it. I know they did put other things in the clay from my area. Im still learning that part of the pottery as to how to tell. Ive just started finding the pottery this yr. The fields I will be hunting this time of the yr so far doent have any pottery in them. The ones I will be hunting in January does. The fields are probably 5 miles apart from each other. I cant go back to the pottery one till next yr due to hunting season and crops.

 

[scuba1970]

Yeah that sounds like shell tempered. Would take mussel shells grind up and put in clay to make stronger. The mica looking pieces are the mother of pearl thin layers from shells. Used extensively in Mississippian era. You will find sand grit and other stuff a lot of times in earlier pottery. It's a good way to tell time periods.

 

[rock]

Thanks for the help.