Indian Relic

[iwalkabout]

Hello everyone im new here and im from upstate N.Y and been collecting Indian artifacts for the past 20 years and just recently started metal detecting. Anyway i was wondering if anybody could help me id this artifact. It was found in a field were i find alot of triangle points "woodland era" like the one shown in the pic. The stone with the holes drilled in it is the relic in question. Im thinking it might be some kind of banner stone or pendent but never seen one like this. Its 3' long and 3/4" wide at one end tapering down to 1/2". Looking at it from the top on each side holes are drilled diagonally and come out the ends. Its made from some type slate not sure what. Any help would be great. Thanks

 

[Noodle]

Fishing net weight?

 

[Get-the-point]

The first one is a Levanna triangle and the second is what is known as a Bar Weight. Usage not known. It is thought to be possibly related to ceremonial purposes. A very nice find as well. They are usually found broken and scarred from plows................I would love to see what else you have found over the twenty years of you hunting. Hope this helps.....................................GTP

 

[iwalkabout]

Thanks gtp that's very interesting Ive never heard of a such thing before and cant really find much info on the net about them. Any other info you may have about a bar weight would be grateful. What kind of stuff would u like to see? Ill take a quick shot of some of my display cases and if u see anything interesting ill post a separate pic of it. Thanks again.

 

[iwalkabout]

Some of my collection.

 

[ohioaxeman]

You have some nice stuff there IWA... That is a bar weight as GTP stated.... Where are you finding your stuff? Also, post your indian relics and artifacts in the Native American Artifact section here on TNET. Lots of good, smart, and friendly people there!

 

[trikikiwi]

Welcome to TreasureNet, iwalkabout

Excellent displays.

Cheers, Mike

 

[iwalkabout]

Thanks, looks to me that its a bar weight for atlatl throwing stick. thanks again for the help and for now on ill post my next pics in the Indian artifact board.

 

[bradyboy]

do the holes connect?
in other words, if you were to thread a line in one hole thru the center, would it come out another hole?
Brady

 

[ohioaxeman]

IWA... Bar weights and birdstones are pretty much the same artifact, cept the birdstones are more detailed and take on the image of a bird with a head and tail! The drillings of the holes are exact or pretty much the same between the two types! Google birdstone!

 

[pointdlr]

Walkabout,

Your relic is not a bar weight, but a bar amulet. Bar weights are undrilled, but often grooved around the center. Bar amulets are drilled with 90 degree attached holes, and made by the same culture that made birdstones. The author/archie Ritchie wrote extensively about this culture in his book Archaeology of New York. I would be happy to send you my copy to read if you promised to send it back.
Here is one in my collection. Very nice piece. If you ever wanted to sell it, send me a private message.
Regards,
Jon Dickinson.

 

[iwalkabout]

Yes, the holes on either end are separately drilled on a angle and meet each other. pointdlr, thanks for the updated information i do have the William Ritchie book myself and just got it back yesterday from a friend i lent it to. If i didn't own the same one i would have taken u up on it. My collecting has been an obsession of mine for the past 20+ years or so and everything Ive collected is within a 20 mile radius of my home, i take some of my collection to local community events so other can enjoy seeing it and learn a bit about our local history, Thanks for the offer on the amulet weight but Ive made up my mind many years ago that my collection would stay whole and local. Thanks.