Greenstone

[tonykidd]

I was looking over some of my greenstone pieces and was marveling at the differences in colors and textures. This is a smooth mortar that feels as smooth as silk versus the rough greenstone celt. They were true craftsmen! Please post any greenstone relics; I'd love to see them.

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[joshuaream]

Are there cups on both sides?

 

[tonykidd]

No, it's flat on the bottom. It's so smooth in the depression that it was most likely ceremonial and little used.

 

[joshuaream]

I was thinking discoidal if it was cupped on both sides. Cool finds.

 

[tonykidd]

I was thinking discoidal if it was cupped on both sides. Cool finds.

I haven't found any greenstone discoidals, but that would definitely be cool. I've found quartz and sandstone, but I've only seen pictures of the greenstone type.

 

[mogi]

I was looking over some of my greenstone pieces and was marveling at the differences in colors and textures. This is a smooth mortar that feels as smooth as silk versus the rough greenstone celt. They were true craftsmen! Please post any greenstone relics; I'd love to see them.

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My Man!!! AWESOME!!!

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Can we see a picture with you holding it in your hand please? Just want to see what actual size it is and how it fits in your hand. Thank you.

 

[tonykidd]

Can we see a picture with you holding it in your hand please? Just want to see what actual size it is and how it fits in your hand. Thank you.

Here's a little better view

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[tonykidd]

Can we see a picture with you holding it in your hand please? Just want to see what actual size it is and how it fits in your hand. Thank you.

Oops.
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[tonykidd]

Can we see a picture with you holding it in your hand please? Just want to see what actual size it is and how it fits in your hand. Thank you.

Would you like me to put a bow on it?

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[The Grim Reaper]

I don't know what the bow comment refers to, but I was asking it's size just to give you my thoughts as to what it might be. I have heard the term Firestarter or Capstone thrown around for years and have never actually seen anything I thought might fit the bill but that piece could be just that. That could be a Capstone used for a Bow Drill. Just a thought, bow or no bow. lol

 

[tonykidd]

I don't know what the bow comment refers to, but I was asking it's size just to give you my thoughts as to what it might be. I have heard the term Firestarter or Capstone thrown around for years and have never actually seen anything I thought might fit the bill but that piece could be just that. That could be a Capstone used for a Bow Drill. Just a thought, bow or no bow. lol

To be fair, it wasn't found with the other greenstone I posted earlier. The greenstone celt and the two greenstone atlatl weights came from one site, and this one came from another. The colors and textures vary wildly. It was obviously ceremonial, because it was with these and some other cool items:

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[arrow86]

Are the last pics all copper ?

 

[jamey]

wow,neat things.maybe the chiefs paint pot for his braves war face.

 

[tonykidd]

Are the last pics all copper ?

Yes, all copper. They were very green with patina when they were found, so we had the state archives clean them back to their original state. We have some other breastplates that are round, and also some more celts. We just recently took some long earrings in to get them cleaned as well. The coolest thing was that one of the eagle breastplates had actual feathers still embossed in the patina. Copper is a great preservative, so many things that normally dissolve were still partially intact, including fabrics. The site dates to about 1000 years BP.

 

[Muddyhandz]

If I was with you when these copper pieces were excavated and then you showed me them after cleaning a 1,000+ years of patina off, I would start crying like a baby!
Why oh why were these cleaned? If there was build-up preventing one from seeing details, it could be cleaned gently and still have the green patina remaining.
If these are what you say they are then I believe they are now worthless.

 

[tonykidd]

If I was with you when these copper pieces were excavated and then you showed me them after cleaning a 1,000+ years of patina off, I would start crying like a baby!
Why oh why were these cleaned? If there was build-up preventing one from seeing details, it could be cleaned gently and still have the green patina remaining.
If these are what you say they are then I believe they are now worthless.

We only had a few cleaned, and have many more still with patina. As far as worthless, that's in the eye of the beholder. I don't sell or buy artifacts, and we've been offered hundreds of thousands of dollars for the relics from this site. It's worth something to a few different collectors, mainly because it is one of four sites in the U.S. that were interconnected. I appreciate your concern, and completely understand why you would feel that way. Here are a few others with the patina still on:

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[1320]

Can we see a picture with you holding it in your hand please? Just want to see what actual size it is and how it fits in your hand. Thank you.

That hand looks familiar....

 

[tonykidd]

That hand looks familiar....

It's actually a hand double I use when posting pictures.

 

[Bow Only]

I'd be more inclined to say discoidal because of its size. IMO, it would take too much time to make it that nice for just a mortar. The Southern Cult sites often had discoidals found at them but they usually weren't interred at burials and were passed down from generation to generation. Cahokia interred some in burials and I'd have to research some of the other sites. Really nice stuff.

Is it the same on both sides or tapered on one side?