Gameballs

Th3rty7 · Feb 8, 2010

These were all found on the same field in southern West Virginia. The last one has always been puzzling to me because it was drilled. Has anyone here seen drilled examples before? Why do you think some ancient decided to drill this piece? Any comments or opinions are appreciated. HH

creek astronaut · Feb 8, 2010

Man u got alot of balls.lol.those are some nice ones,cant figure why the ancients would have drilled a hole in one of those.which brings me to my next question,do you think they were used for a game or did they have some other purpose?Imo they would have made great weapons used in slings. :headbang:

Th3rty7 · Feb 8, 2010

creek astronaut said:
Man u got alot of balls.lol.those are some nice ones,cant figure why the ancients would have drilled a hole in one of those.which brings me to my next question,do you think they were used for a game or did they have some other purpose?Imo they would have made great weapons used in slings.

Thanks man...I'm honestly pretty confused about gameballs in general. I've heard people call them " egg stones " and " priests stones " also which only adds to the confusion. I do know that certain tribes played a game like lacrosse in books I've read. A weapon also makes sense though, like a sling or bolo. These could do some damage for sure. I can only speculate on these polished nuggets of history.

I'm checking out your albums, seeing lots of sweet ohio pieces. That translucent Macorkle or bifurcated point is killer.

DemonCatSpaceStar · Feb 9, 2010

I'm no expert by any means but I have read that (like you said) they played a lacrosse type game also I've read that they would be sewn loosely into a hide for weapons. Or pecking stones?

pickaway · Feb 15, 2010

That drilled one is nice, I do find alot of egg shaped pieces but not with the high polish as yours are...

uniface · Feb 15, 2010

Pieces like those are found as far back as the Paleo era, and often in groups of three. probably, bolo stones.

By the same token, "locks in socks" are popular and easily made weapons in prisons -- saps.

And your sling idea probably shouldn't be disregarded, either.

The last two would be outright weapons for fighting rather than hunting tools.

uniface · Feb 15, 2010

http://www.lithiccastinglab.com/gallery-pages/2008marchdaltontoolspage2.htm

Scroll down to the bottom. These, they're calling Dalton hammerstones.

Th3rty7 · Feb 15, 2010

uniface said:
http://www.lithiccastinglab.com/gallery-pages/2008marchdaltontoolspage2.htm

Scroll down to the bottom. These, they're calling Dalton hammerstones.

That's interesting..wonder how many of those we've all walked past and didn't pick up because it looked like a " rock ". Sure would like to come across a denticulite like the one pictured at the top of that page...awesome artifact.