Carved Antler Pipe - Please help me identify age

[Wheeler]

We found this pipe about 10 plus years ago in a South Georgia field undergoing preparation for construction. Fill dirt was being hauled in from elsewhere and dumped and spread about. This pipe was in that fill dirt along with fossiled shells. My husband cleaned the dirt and grime off of it. It is intricately carved with crossed arrows and tomahawks on the shaft. The end of the bowl has a carved eagle's head and an arrow on each side. Any chance this could be from early America, post colonial to Civil War? Or do you think it's newer?

 

[terryo]

My two cents say it is recently made, probably from an artistic hippy doper that carved it. .I know several people around my area that make(and use them) .It has been my experience that antler tines,much like hair, wouldn't last long, unless submerged.

 

[bman3725]

I saw some of those pipes just like that back in the 90's at an Indian reservation, and yep it was strictly being used for smoking pot. I would say its fairly new, when i say that now it could be from the 70's or later who knows.

 

[N.J.THer]

I would think newer...older antler would not hold up in the ground unless it was preserved somehow in a matrix that would keep it from deteriorating. Such as ground that was hard packed clay.


NJ

 

[Wheeler]

I appreciate all of your opinions. It is very helpful. South Georgia is known for its red clay soil, however, the tooling of this piece definitely seems to favor 20th century creation. I wish it were older but it's still super! (That's my 1970's take on it.)

 

[olekyground]

Neat little keeper anyway. Something to pass o n.

 

[flakefinder]

It's a nice find no matter the age, Congrats....

 

[oldsalty19]

 

[cntrydncr1]

very cool!