ANCIENT FINGER PRINT PERHAPS?

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I find lots of pottery pieces where I walk but this is the first one I feel shows a finger imprint. Pretty sure it is

 

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[CreekSide]

Could also be where they attached a handle or leg. They did make some with finger nails impressed along the rims. I can’t disagree with you cause I’m sure they made mistakes just like anyone.

 

[TreaShore]

Thought this would be interesting to share. I have a few late 19th century stoneware bottles that do show fingerprints. They are normally near the base or at where the handle is attached and the clay s smoothed by hand. This example does not have it, but gives an idea of what I am talking about.

 

[Older The Better]

Definitely could be, considering that would be the inside of the pot, I don’t see any reason it would be a decorative choice. I don’t know how you would prove without a doubt if you were making a professional claim, but for a personal collection I’d go with it. A unique connection to an individual that lived thousands of years ago.

 

[newnan man]

I agree it's most likely a finger or thumb impression.

 

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Cool looking piece there.

 

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Definitely could be, considering that would be the inside of the pot, I don’t see any reason it would be a decorative choice. I don’t know how you would prove without a doubt if you were making a professional claim, but for a personal collection I’d go with it. A unique connection to an individual that lived thousands of years ago.

I guess one could look under a microscope and see if there are any lines or ridges front a fingerprint. I took it as an impression and the curved line (bottom edge) looks like where a fingernail went in. Maybe but I will take it. No museum piece here.

 

[RGINN]

We'd see tons of potsherds on plains village farmer sites in Oklahoma, and my buddy found one piece that actually had a clearly discernible fingerprint on it. Wish I'd got a pic of that.

 

[Charl]

Here’s a shell tempered ceramic “what’s it” with clearly visible fingerprints. Looks like a spindle whorl, but I’m not sure what it was, maybe just a decorative thing…..

 

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Here’s a shell tempered ceramic “what’s it” with clearly visible fingerprints. Looks like a spindle whorl, but I’m not sure what it was, maybe just a decorative thing…..

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necklace piece maybe?
something for trade items?

 

[Charl]

necklace piece maybe?
something for trade items?

Yeah, maybe a bead. It’s raised on one side, giving it the form of a spindle whorl, which are often ceramic, with a similar appearance in many cultures, don’t know enough about them, though. But treasure the fingerprints, whatever it is!