I have been reading this document titled "SOME ABORIGINAL SITES ON GREEN RIVER, KENTUCKY CERTAIN ABORIGINAL SITES ON LOWER OHIO RIVER ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION ON MISSISSIPPI RIVER" by Clarence B. Moore. It is a pretty extensive documentation of relics and burials found in the in nine weeks of the fall and winter of 1915-1916.
They found a lot of bannerstonest, a total of 21; flint and other items. Interesting that the bannerstones was called "Mesh Spacers." Many atlatl hooks, total 22, were found and called "Netting needle" They found these, flint and other relics in NINE weeks. Wow
A section concerning the human vertebra transfixed by a spearpoint of antler, I found especially interesting and am including it here.
The vertebra penetrated by an antler spearhead (from " The Indian Knoll, " Ohio Co., Ky. ) is the second of the lumbar series. The point entered the left intervertebral foramen between the first and second lumbar vertebræ , passed downward and across the spinal canal and pierced the right pedicle, the tip of the spearhead projecting an inch beyond the pedicle ( Fig. 20) . It is still firmly embedded in the bone.
The right pedicle is completely separated from the body of the vertebra, while on the left side a fracture extends from the upper surface of the body downward through about three-quarters of the base of the corresponding pedicle . The lower, posterior margin of the body of the first lumbar vertebra also is somewhat crushed by the pressure of the spearhead.
Death must have occurred soon after the wound was inflicted, as the bone presents no indication of repair.
The spearhead evidently was thrust into the side at a little distance from the spinal column and probably was covered by flesh when it penetrated the vertebra. Removal of the shaft then left the point concealed and beyond the reach of one who might wish to extract it.
The antler spearhead, unbroken and well- preserved, has a length of 3.9 inches and measures .8 inch across the base, which is unbarbed. The socket for the shaft has a depth of one inch and is .5 inch in diameter of opening. The surface presents longitudinal markings or facets, apparently made by a paring or scraping tool, while the apex has been rather abruptly pointed. The spear head has been in no wise impaired by its passage through the bone, a fair indication of the effectiveness of points made of such material.
Though antler points are found from Maine to Arkansas, human bones retaining them have been rather infrequently met.
In Peabody Museum, Cambridge, is a human vertebra transfixed with an antler arrowpoint, from Turpin's Farm, near Madisonville, Ohio. In this instance the point entered from the back, the tip of the arrowhead being embedded in the body of the vertebra.
In the investigation of Burial Ridge, at Tottenville, Staten Island, Mr. George H. Pepper came upon three associated skeletons, among the bones of which were numerous arrowheads of antler, bone, and stone. One antler point was found engaged in a rib. 2
Mr. A. C. Parker, curator of the New York State Museum, in a letter mentions a skull found near the shore of Lake Champlain, opposite the village of Dresden, in which a long antler point had penetrated an eye- socket.
In a communication from Dr. C. L. Metz reference is made to finding a human sacrum pierced by an arrow or lancehead of deer antler, in the aboriginal cemetery near Madisonville, Ohio. The point, about 2.5 inches in length, evidently had traversed the abdominal cavity and penetrated the sacrum, the tip projecting beyond the posterior surface of the bone.
page 477-478
FOOTNOTES
1 The reader will recall that a place of the same name below " The Indian Knoll” has been described in this report.
50 JOURN . A. N. S. PHILA ., VOL. XVI
1C . C. Willoughby, " Antler-pointed Arrows of the Southeastern Indians," American Anthro
pologist, N. S. , vol. III , p . 431
2 Alanson Skinner, “ The Indians of Manhattan Island and Vicinity ,” The American Museum
Journal, vol. IX , No. 6 , p . 149 .
They found a lot of bannerstonest, a total of 21; flint and other items. Interesting that the bannerstones was called "Mesh Spacers." Many atlatl hooks, total 22, were found and called "Netting needle" They found these, flint and other relics in NINE weeks. Wow
A section concerning the human vertebra transfixed by a spearpoint of antler, I found especially interesting and am including it here.
HUMAN VERTEBRA TRANSFIXED BY A SPEARPOINT OF ANTLER.
By M. G. Miller, M.D.
By M. G. Miller, M.D.
The vertebra penetrated by an antler spearhead (from " The Indian Knoll, " Ohio Co., Ky. ) is the second of the lumbar series. The point entered the left intervertebral foramen between the first and second lumbar vertebræ , passed downward and across the spinal canal and pierced the right pedicle, the tip of the spearhead projecting an inch beyond the pedicle ( Fig. 20) . It is still firmly embedded in the bone.
The right pedicle is completely separated from the body of the vertebra, while on the left side a fracture extends from the upper surface of the body downward through about three-quarters of the base of the corresponding pedicle . The lower, posterior margin of the body of the first lumbar vertebra also is somewhat crushed by the pressure of the spearhead.
The spearhead evidently was thrust into the side at a little distance from the spinal column and probably was covered by flesh when it penetrated the vertebra. Removal of the shaft then left the point concealed and beyond the reach of one who might wish to extract it.
The antler spearhead, unbroken and well- preserved, has a length of 3.9 inches and measures .8 inch across the base, which is unbarbed. The socket for the shaft has a depth of one inch and is .5 inch in diameter of opening. The surface presents longitudinal markings or facets, apparently made by a paring or scraping tool, while the apex has been rather abruptly pointed. The spear head has been in no wise impaired by its passage through the bone, a fair indication of the effectiveness of points made of such material.
Though antler points are found from Maine to Arkansas, human bones retaining them have been rather infrequently met.
In Peabody Museum, Cambridge, is a human vertebra transfixed with an antler arrowpoint, from Turpin's Farm, near Madisonville, Ohio. In this instance the point entered from the back, the tip of the arrowhead being embedded in the body of the vertebra.
In the investigation of Burial Ridge, at Tottenville, Staten Island, Mr. George H. Pepper came upon three associated skeletons, among the bones of which were numerous arrowheads of antler, bone, and stone. One antler point was found engaged in a rib. 2
Mr. A. C. Parker, curator of the New York State Museum, in a letter mentions a skull found near the shore of Lake Champlain, opposite the village of Dresden, in which a long antler point had penetrated an eye- socket.
In a communication from Dr. C. L. Metz reference is made to finding a human sacrum pierced by an arrow or lancehead of deer antler, in the aboriginal cemetery near Madisonville, Ohio. The point, about 2.5 inches in length, evidently had traversed the abdominal cavity and penetrated the sacrum, the tip projecting beyond the posterior surface of the bone.
page 477-478
FOOTNOTES
1 The reader will recall that a place of the same name below " The Indian Knoll” has been described in this report.
50 JOURN . A. N. S. PHILA ., VOL. XVI
1C . C. Willoughby, " Antler-pointed Arrows of the Southeastern Indians," American Anthro
pologist, N. S. , vol. III , p . 431
2 Alanson Skinner, “ The Indians of Manhattan Island and Vicinity ,” The American Museum
Journal, vol. IX , No. 6 , p . 149 .
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