Age of Stone Smoking Pipe..Update..Verified Authentic!
A friend of mine salvaged this pipe from the bottom of a box of junk. He asked me to post it to see if we could possibly date it. It is made of some type of stone and the metal detector does not react to it at all...It is approx. 6 inches long and 3 inches tall. Could it be native American?, Colonial?, CW era? or a modern head shop novelty item? I'd appreciate any and all input .
Thanks and HH y'all
Update: I received a phone call today from a local Indian artifact expert who was contacted by the professor at the college. He told me that based on the pics it looked authentic but he would have to see it in person to be sure. I asked him if he had time today to look at it and he said "sure" and gave me directions to his house. I grabbed the pipe and a few points i have found and headed over to his house. He examined the pipe and confirmed that it is in fact a genuine woodlands period steatite platform pipe. He pointed out some characteristics of the pipe that strengthened the confirmation. He has studied native American artifacts his entire life and has written a book on artifacts. He has donated many pieces of his collections to many museums and Universities. The property his house is on is actually a ceremonial burial ground where he has found several pipes.
He asked me if my friend would be interested in selling the pipe and offered to by it for a substantial sum. I told him I would get back to him as soon as I knew something.
*************** WHAT YOU DO WITH THE FINDS YOU DIG UP IS YOUR BUSINESS AND NO ONE ELSES, IGNORE ANYONE ON A SOAPBOX TRYING TO PREACH OTHERWISE! **************
Looks like Steatite to me.It also appears to be a prehistoric to early historic pipe.Could you get some closeups of the inside of the bowl and the hole on the stem?If its old, its a fairly valuable piece.I would suggest taking or sending it to an authenticator.
Looks like Steatite to me.It also appears to be a prehistoric to early historic pipe.Could you get some closeups of the inside of the bowl and the hole on the stem?If its old, its a fairly valuable piece.I would suggest taking or sending it to an authenticator.
Here are more pics...I dont know what type of stone it is ,,,it's greenish bronze in color...the chipped areas have a texture similar to that of cast iron...if that helps at all.
I stopped by a local college today and spoke with one of the professors that specializes in Native American artifacts/archaeology. I showed him the pipe and he told me it is a flat based pipe made of steatite and if genuine, could be worth a lot of money. He emailed someone he knows that has an extensive collection and expertise of Native American pipes and directed him to this website for the photos. I left him some contact info and hope to get this pipe authenticated soon. This pipe would be from the woodlands period or thereabouts.
AHHH! The woodlands. Yes, very old indeed. We have a Woodlands dig going on right now with very intriguing and mysterious finds as well on our property. I have been working with the Archaeologists and it's been very rewarding. GOOD LUCK!
This black steatite handled platform pipe was found by Jasper M. Martin near Fitzgerald in south-central Georgia. I believe this pipe represents a unique and rare style (especially for this area), and after a significant amount of research, I offer the following analysis and theory. The first clue is that this pipe was made of a very high quality, polished black steatite. "Steatite or soapstone is found in outcrops over much of the eastern United States, along parts of the West Coast, and in isolated locations in between."(1) Pipe makers used steatite extensively across the United States, but especially in the Southeast beginning in the Early Woodland period. "Throughout the long period of use, steatite seems to have been traded as a raw material (local pipe forms made of out-of-area steatite) or as finished products (exotic pipe forms of steatite in local areas)."(1) "No other stone was so suitable for this purpose. It is not injured by heat, and compact steatite is not easily fractured. It can be carved or drilled without very great labor, and some of the varieties have a surface nearly as brilliant as marble, when polished."(1,2) "Green and black steatite quarried from the Virginia-Carolina region was a favorite raw material of prehistoric pipe makers. As Woodland Culture trade networks expanded westward, quantities of both raw steatite and finished steatite products such as pipe forms were distributed throughout the Ohio and Cumberland River drainages."(1,3)
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It looks like a Hopewell platform pipe and if authentic is worth over 1 thousand dollars. It needs to be sent to an authenticator such as Davis. A lot of those were faked and a real pipe in that condition is very rare. Good luck.
AHHH! The woodlands. Yes, very old indeed. We have a Woodlands dig going on right now with very intriguing and mysterious finds as well on our property. I have been working with the Archaeologists and it's been very rewarding. GOOD LUCK!
This black steatite handled platform pipe was found by Jasper M. Martin near Fitzgerald in south-central Georgia. I believe this pipe represents a unique and rare style (especially for this area), and after a significant amount of research, I offer the following analysis and theory. The first clue is that this pipe was made of a very high quality, polished black steatite. "Steatite or soapstone is found in outcrops over much of the eastern United States, along parts of the West Coast, and in isolated locations in between."(1) Pipe makers used steatite extensively across the United States, but especially in the Southeast beginning in the Early Woodland period. "Throughout the long period of use, steatite seems to have been traded as a raw material (local pipe forms made of out-of-area steatite) or as finished products (exotic pipe forms of steatite in local areas)."(1) "No other stone was so suitable for this purpose. It is not injured by heat, and compact steatite is not easily fractured. It can be carved or drilled without very great labor, and some of the varieties have a surface nearly as brilliant as marble, when polished."(1,2) "Green and black steatite quarried from the Virginia-Carolina region was a favorite raw material of prehistoric pipe makers. As Woodland Culture trade networks expanded westward, quantities of both raw steatite and finished steatite products such as pipe forms were distributed throughout the Ohio and Cumberland River drainages."(1,3)
In the picture showing the dig....could you tell me why you decided to dig in that spot? What was found there?
AHHH! The woodlands. Yes, very old indeed. We have a Woodlands dig going on right now with very intriguing and mysterious finds as well on our property. I have been working with the Archaeologists and it's been very rewarding. GOOD LUCK!
This black steatite handled platform pipe was found by Jasper M. Martin near Fitzgerald in south-central Georgia. I believe this pipe represents a unique and rare style (especially for this area), and after a significant amount of research, I offer the following analysis and theory. The first clue is that this pipe was made of a very high quality, polished black steatite. "Steatite or soapstone is found in outcrops over much of the eastern United States, along parts of the West Coast, and in isolated locations in between."(1) Pipe makers used steatite extensively across the United States, but especially in the Southeast beginning in the Early Woodland period. "Throughout the long period of use, steatite seems to have been traded as a raw material (local pipe forms made of out-of-area steatite) or as finished products (exotic pipe forms of steatite in local areas)."(1) "No other stone was so suitable for this purpose. It is not injured by heat, and compact steatite is not easily fractured. It can be carved or drilled without very great labor, and some of the varieties have a surface nearly as brilliant as marble, when polished."(1,2) "Green and black steatite quarried from the Virginia-Carolina region was a favorite raw material of prehistoric pipe makers. As Woodland Culture trade networks expanded westward, quantities of both raw steatite and finished steatite products such as pipe forms were distributed throughout the Ohio and Cumberland River drainages."(1,3)
In the picture showing the dig....could you tell me why you decided to dig in that spot? What was found there?
Well, We were having some wells (testing) dug on the property of the camp when one of the men saw something indigenous to past civilization.
The Archaeologist's were then called in and we began to sift and scrape. I was kindly asked to not post yet what is being dug but, when we are finished I will post the finds. To me, this has been more gratifying than detecting. The Archaeologist's are so knowledgeable and respectful to the land. I have great respect for them and am proud to be their friend.
Woodland Detectors - Open 7 days, Toll Free 855-966-3563 - Build your own Packages!
AHHH! The woodlands. Yes, very old indeed. We have a Woodlands dig going on right now with very intriguing and mysterious finds as well on our property. I have been working with the Archaeologists and it's been very rewarding. GOOD LUCK!
This black steatite handled platform pipe was found by Jasper M. Martin near Fitzgerald in south-central Georgia. I believe this pipe represents a unique and rare style (especially for this area), and after a significant amount of research, I offer the following analysis and theory. The first clue is that this pipe was made of a very high quality, polished black steatite. "Steatite or soapstone is found in outcrops over much of the eastern United States, along parts of the West Coast, and in isolated locations in between."(1) Pipe makers used steatite extensively across the United States, but especially in the Southeast beginning in the Early Woodland period. "Throughout the long period of use, steatite seems to have been traded as a raw material (local pipe forms made of out-of-area steatite) or as finished products (exotic pipe forms of steatite in local areas)."(1) "No other stone was so suitable for this purpose. It is not injured by heat, and compact steatite is not easily fractured. It can be carved or drilled without very great labor, and some of the varieties have a surface nearly as brilliant as marble, when polished."(1,2) "Green and black steatite quarried from the Virginia-Carolina region was a favorite raw material of prehistoric pipe makers. As Woodland Culture trade networks expanded westward, quantities of both raw steatite and finished steatite products such as pipe forms were distributed throughout the Ohio and Cumberland River drainages."(1,3)
In the picture showing the dig....could you tell me why you decided to dig in that spot? What was found there?
Well, We were having some wells (testing) dug on the property of the camp when one of the men saw something indigenous to past civilization. The Archaeologist's were then called in and we began to sift and scrape.I was kindly asked to not post yet what is being dug but, when we are finished I will post the finds. To me, this has been more gratifying than detecting. The Archaeologist's are so knowledgeable and respectful to the land. I have great respect for them and am proud to be their friend.
I'm not trying to hijack this post, but, why would you call in Arch's? Did you find some bones?
Also, who retains ownership of the finds and do they leave your property?
Just curious,
Newt
Great looking pipe. Like everyone else look forward to knowing more.
Mike did the right thing when he hit artifacts on that particular tract of land. If it had been under a private ownership it may have been diffrent. I have sunk many wells in my lifetime though. Last year we had 4 drilled. My question to Mike is why a test pit? My guys lower the boom and drill. Did you suspect that the area may have held prehistoric occupation other than what the camp was originally built for?
TnMtns
Great looking pipe. Like everyone else look forward to knowing more.
Mike did the right thing when the hit artifacts on that particular tract of land.If it had been under a private ownership it may have been diffrent. I have sunk many wells in my lifetime though. Last year we had 4 drilled. My question to Mike is why a test pit? My guys lower the boom and drill. Did you suspect that the area may have held prehistoric occupation other than what the camp was originally built for?
TnMtns
Kia ora Mike.
Hi Richard. I'm not quite sure.
All I know is they had to drill for a new facility proposed on site.
We knew that the "creek" And "Cherokee" occupied the grounds but, had no proof of any others.
Artifacts will be most likely sent to our local museum.
Cant wait to see if your pipe is authentic gxray! It would make the Banner!
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Originally Posted by John G. Scoggins
