fake or real thunderbird?...is that even a real question?

[birdpointgriswold]

Ok so I'm in the huge debate about this piece... for one it was said to be found in Florida, and as Gatorboy has told me, thunderbirds, eagles blah blah were only associated with the west. The guy who posted is asking if it is real or fake.. there are some guys telling him 1000 percent it is real. While me on the other hand would bet everything I own that it is a fake. I've read 99.9 percent of these things are modern. I just wanted to see what you guys think and if anyone had a good website, or documented info about these things! Thanks

 

[GatorBoy]

That was well worded and I see that also.. that still leaves the fact that this "Florida Thunderbird" is fake as they come.
I was just trying to be diplomatic.
I know the Facebook page he got that from.. so and so addiction.
That thing is loaded with b.s.
And people trying to sell b.s.

 

[NC field hunter]

I don't know guys....I have no expertise about determining authentic from fake...the main reason why I decided not to buy anything...but looking at the cool drills posted and the original photo I see a big difference....the picture of the piece in question is very uniform and the "wings" are pronounced in their curvature, while the drills look like regular notches on a point. The "neck and head" are also really narrow, while most of the drill pics show a taper...even the "tail" is longer than the base on the drills shown...I again have no experience to judge...haven't even found a drill yet, but they just look very different to me...nonetheless, thanks for sharing and it makes for some interesting debate.

You pointed out some really important details. Details that I overlooked. The beak was all I needed to see to know it was no drill. I can see the likenesses between the drill and this piece, but I can't think the maker of this, modern or ancient ever intended for a drill as their outcome. Nice eye my friend!

 

[NC field hunter]

No such thing as a real Thunderbird so it is definitely a fake.

Reaper I'm not at all trying to push your buttons by asking this, I have always wanted an answer to what I'm about to ask. You seem positive that a second gander is unnecessary on these things. I have seen you write it more than once, probably more than 15 times. "Thunder bird effigies are not real". Me, I can't say one way or the other. I have seen you and others say "fake" so many times, that I follow you, and call fake on them. My question.... Why does this one effigy stand out as fake while other effigies, such as the lizard do not? For you to say all of these are fake, their has got to be a well documented reason behind your saying it. What is the story behind the mysterious fake thunder bird? I know the price, 30 twice! Lol. That's all I know about the word, "thunder bird". Thanks Reap!

 

[The Grim Reaper]

There are all kinds of Wing Tipped Drills and I have few myself, but there has never, and I repeat NEVER been one of these Thunderbirds found in context in any grave or Mound. If they are such special pieces don't you think that at least one would have been buried with someone??

They are all fake.

 

[NC field hunter]

There are all kinds of Wing Tipped Drills and I have few myself, but there has never, and I repeat NEVER been one of these Thunderbirds found in context in any grave or Mound. If they are such special pieces don't you think that at least one would have been buried with someone??

They are all fake.

What about the one made of shell? I'm sure you have seen it on line. Do you believe it is a fake as well? Not to put you on the spot, but the artifakers had to get the idea of the thunder bird from some place. I know one thing, I hope I never ever find one.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Yes, there have been Shell Birds found, but not the Flint ones.

 

[Charl]

The first illustration are effigies made of shell or bone, not sure which is which. I was told they are pretty much exclusive to Mandan sites.

The 2nd illustration was accompanied by this text: “A few very special artifacts were used in the ritual or ceremonial realms of certain prehistoric groups. At village sites of northwestern Iowa’s Late Prehistoric Mill Creek culture, small lens-shaped quartz or basalt discoidals and thunderbird effigies of limestone and catlinite have been found”. However, those are ground, not flaked into shape.

 

[Jonzer]

No such thing....