Maryland Prehistoric soapstone bowl - need help

[smokeythecat]

There are large soapstone Indian quarries not far from here. I have visited them in the past. Anyway, this piece was found locally. It's about 10" across. It appears two ears for handles were started, and the roughing out was started, but never completed. Do you it's late Woodland period, contact period or something else? Thanks for looking. BTW soapstone and steatite are the same thing.

 

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[Rege-PA]

I would think Soap Stone bowls are Archaic as the Woodland period introduced pottery which was much lighter and could be formed to many different shapes.

 

[arrow86]

That’s really nice .... personal find ?

 

[MAMucker]

Well that’s an interesting bowl (to say the least). Whether it’s Soap Stone or Steatite (same thing?) the outside has a very granular look to it. But, the pecking and gouge markings on the inside tell the story of the material and workmanship.

Is it possible that it was utilized as is?

Wow!

Love to find one of those!

 

[Quartzite Keith]

I highly recommend this book, all about your area and includes a chapter on the soapstone quarries around you:

https://www.gustavslibrary.com/potomacchesapeake.htm

Some of that info can been seen free at:

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uva.x001726249&view=1up&seq=252

I believe the soapstone bowls are all Late Archaic or possibly older, with the Woodland period being defined as when pottery came into use and soapstone got phased out.

 

[A2coins]

That's a museum piece I wish I could find stuff that old here lol.

 

[smokeythecat]

I must confess I did not dig this one. Saw it dug and sort of stole it (actually a bribe). Being there is half the fun. Steatite and soapstone is the same mineral. I know where our quarries are around here and either copperhead infested or private property and off limits, although I have a friend who found 6 on his farm. The Indians were living near a spring there, and I can get permission to dig it this fall, I think.

 

[southfork]

Nice save great artifact for your collection .

 

[Tpmetal]

I must confess I did not dig this one. Saw it dug and sort of stole it (actually a bribe). Being there is half the fun. Steatite and soapstone is the same mineral. I know where our quarries are around here and either copperhead infested or private property and off limits, although I have a friend who found 6 on his farm. The Indians were living near a spring there, and I can get permission to dig it this fall, I think.

you should jump all over it! Just remember I am young enough and stupid enough to be good at manual labor if you need a hand!

 

[NCPeaches]

When I show the local archaeologist soapstone bowl pieces he says they are Archaic time period and 2,000 to 6,000 years old. Would love to find a whole one like that one you have and would love to find the quarry they carved them from in my area. Amazing!

 

[smokeythecat]

Y'all are going to get sick over this, but the "bribe" was $50. I have another I found when I was a kid. Somewhere....it's with my banner gold coin I hid fall of 2017 and haven't found yet. It's here, somewhere.

 

[arrow86]

That’s a good deal !, and I bet your gonna do the happy dance all over the house when you re-find that coin lol

 

[Out Of Time]

Beautiful bowl.

 

[smokeythecat]

Coin is here. I hid it from the carpet installers. I hid it REAL GOOD.