✅ SOLVED Animal Effigies?

[ValleyStones]

All of these were found within the same area. Have found many other stones (non effigies) that I have questions about as well. Thanks for any help or words of wisdom.

 

[rock]

Just natural forms. Welcome to the site, rock

 

[quito]

Welcome to the forum!

Sorry to say those are all geofacts, and not artifacts. When the natives wanted to make an animal effigy, they left little doubt as to it having been shaped by human hands. And it really looked like something.

 

[ValleyStones]

Any examples? pics 2 and 3,4 have a similar "w" shaped wing above a depressed tail. what I call a tail. Thanks for thoughts and any resources

 

[dbag1969]

Any examples? pics 2 and 3,4 have a similar "w" shaped wing above a depressed tail. what I call a tail. Thanks for thoughts and any resources

There is an example on the banner finds that monsterrack recently found and posted. http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/n...cts/376211-best-find-my-life.html#post3590212

 

[rock]

Any examples? pics 2 and 3,4 have a similar "w" shaped wing above a depressed tail. what I call a tail. Thanks for thoughts and any resources

Here is one for you but it isnt mine. A friend found it and I took a pic of it. Its the real deal.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Not Effigies. Like quito said, when the Indians wanted to make something to represent an animal then that piece would look like that animal. Do a Google search for Stone Effigies and see what real ones look like.

 

[Charl]

Any examples? pics 2 and 3,4 have a similar "w" shaped wing above a depressed tail. what I call a tail. Thanks for thoughts and any resources

Well, here's one I trot out at times like this, so here's a sandstone pebble that leaves no doubt. Might not be an animal per se, but nature didn't do this. Found on Narragansett Bay, RI.

 

[ValleyStones]

Is this the exception or the rule? If these objects meant something (religious or otherwise) wouldn't many have these symbolic figures? Can't imagine they all look this good or that there were that many skilled artisians. Thanks

 

[GatorBoy]

Is this the exception or the rule? If these objects meant something (religious or otherwise) wouldn't many have these symbolic figures? Can't imagine they all look this good or that there were that many skilled artisians. Thanks

It's still quite easy to tell if a tool used by a man made a purposefully shaped object VS a natural shape that occurred over time.

 

[Charl]

Is this the exception or the rule? If these objects meant something (religious or otherwise) wouldn't many have these symbolic figures? Can't imagine they all look this good or that there were that many skilled artisians. Thanks

Well, I would disagree to a point. We have to begin with the fact that artistic talent is an innate gift present in a percentage of any human population. If you take 1000 Western Europeans and 1000 Native Americans, humans all being human, there should be about an equal number of individuals who have artistic talent. I believe there were many skilled artisans in any Native group who were capable of producing nice works of representational or abstract art. They were as human as we are, no reason why they would not be just as intelligent, just as skilled with their hands, etc. Wonderful art, even much that appeals to our own modernistic sensibilities are present throughout prehistoric populations. Picasso and other Western artists were inspired by "primitive" African art, for example. So, to answer your question, the figurine I posted photos of IS the rule, not the exception. There is no real reason to doubt there were many skilled artisans. On a similar note, some members of a band or tribe might have been exceptionally good at flintnapping. The skill level there was not equal, some would have been much more skilled then others. Such skilled individuals perhaps were the ones who fashioned exquisite ceremonial grade flaked tools as burial goods. I.E., there may have been tribal individuals who performed that task. Human fashioned representational and/or abstract artistic works that are immediately recognizable are the rule. If you have to guess, or position correctly in the light, or if it's similar to seeing images in a cloud, then chances are overwhelming that it's natural. Just take the Hopewell culture as one example. Skilled artisans galore. Finely fashioned figures, effigy pipes, etc, etc. for centuries. Art is art, and skill doesn't play favorites, it's present in all populations, in all cultures. We are all Homo sapiens. Prehistory is full of Picassos whose names we will never know. These were cultures who worked with stone for thousands of years. Their skill level with stone, whether knapping, pecking and grinding, or sculpting, as in the pebble figurine above, was very refined. Clear and obvious effigies, etc. will always be the rule, not the exception.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Just made by mother nature....

I found thousands of rocks just like yours while hunting artifacts in Missouri. I could imagine all kinds of shapes and figures in them but they were just rocks...

Better luck next time.

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[Just Amazed]

View attachment 873343View attachment 873344View attachment 873345View attachment 873346View attachment 873347View attachment 873348 All of these were found within the same area. Have found many other stones (non effigies) that I have questions about as well. Thanks for any help or words of wisdom.

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[Just Amazed]

View attachment 873343View attachment 873344View attachment 873345View attachment 873346View attachment 873347View attachment 873348 All of these were found within the same area. Have found many other stones (non effigies) that I have questions about as well. Thanks for any help or words of wisdom.

Hi , I Am Just Amazed.....By the Artifacts and Rocks that I Have Found With Animal Shapes and Faces. I Can Certainly See What You Are Seeing In These Pieces. I'm starting to believe that in a lot of these pieces "The Indians Were Just Playing With Rocks" I'm No Expert, That Is Just My Opinion. I would like to share with you some of My Findings and Wish You and. Happy Hunting !


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[Just Amazed]

Hi , I Am Just Amazed.....By the Artifacts and Rocks that I Have Found With Animal Shapes and Faces. I Can Certainly See What You Are Seeing In These Pieces. I'm starting to believe that in a lot of these pieces "The Indians Were Just Playing With Rocks" I'm No Expert, That Is Just My Opinion. I would like to share with you some of My Findings and Wish You and. Happy Hunting !View attachment 875327View attachment 875328View attachment 875329View attachment 875330View attachment 875331View attachment 875332View attachment 875333View attachment 875334View attachment 875335View attachment 875336View attachment 875337View attachment 875338

The First Five Pictures Are All One Rock. Wow !
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[ValleyStones]

Charl, I do believe there were skilled artisians, absolutely. Regardless of the craft. Construction, clothing, cooking, problem solving, etc... I feel there are many other factors to be considered. Not all artists are picasso. Elephants can paint and some call it art. If the cross is meaningful to me (just a symbolic example) I could tie two sticks together as a representation. Why? Perhaps I cant carve objcets out of wood or afford a shiny gold cross to wear around my neck or I don't like Sally the skilled craftsman that specializes in crosses, or I am out on traveling and need this token/object for the journey. I am not saying that the ones that I have submitted are legit, I have learned much through the few responses/explanations that have been given by fellow members. I just believe that there maybe some rough looking effigies that don't look so exceptional.

 

[GatorBoy]

Very very few I'm sure.
People who are not good at something..just do something else.. that they are more proficient in.
And you would still be able to see the work.. even if it is bad.
I could fill an arch with animal shaped stones just walking a shoreline.
The fact that you find alot of them alone should tell you something.

 

[larson1951]

hey hey just amazed welcome to the tnet

i can see what you are seeing but they are not effigies
they are just natural rocks.....i mean no disrespect to you by sayin' this

keep hunting i can tell you are interested....i wish you good luck in the future

larson1951

 

[unclemac]

when you find a real one you won't have to ask us....it will be blindingly obvious to you. Even a crudely made projectile point is still obviously a worked piece of stone (bone, copper, what have you). And yes different skill levels produce different beautiful or just utilitarian objects...but they are still unquestionably knapped.

 

[Charl]

Charl, I do believe there were skilled artisians, absolutely. Regardless of the craft. Construction, clothing, cooking, problem solving, etc... I feel there are many other factors to be considered. Not all artists are picasso. Elephants can paint and some call it art. If the cross is meaningful to me (just a symbolic example) I could tie two sticks together as a representation. Why? Perhaps I cant carve objcets out of wood or afford a shiny gold cross to wear around my neck or I don't like Sally the skilled craftsman that specializes in crosses, or I am out on traveling and need this token/object for the journey. I am not saying that the ones that I have submitted are legit, I have learned much through the few responses/explanations that have been given by fellow members. I just believe that there maybe some rough looking effigies that don't look so exceptional.

Without arguing your point, any such rocks would need to at least show signs of being modified by human hands, as gator, Steve, and unclemac have pointed out, and all the rocks shown by yourself and by Just Amazed don't display such evidence. The conclusion by forum members that these are natural is correct, IMHO. Begin with evidence of human workmanship. If that's not present, then there will be no point in judging it a possible effigy. Good luck hunting and the members here will always give the best advice and opinions we can muster....