Native American Artifact ID Needed Please

[dave5339]

Hi all,

This is something my Grandmother collected in probably the early 70's in NW Kansas.

If my memory is correct it was probably a surface find after a heavy rain, (surface hunting was a common family pastime as a kid).

She had always referred to it as a Phoenix or Thunderbird. However I've not been able to google up any similar artifact.

Any ID help you might have is greatly appreciated.

Semper Fi

 

[The Grim Reaper]

This almost always starts a controversy and usually ticks off the person posting one of these and asking about it, but 99.99999999999999% of those Thunderbirds or Eagles are fakes and tourist items. It is the general consensus among collectors that none of these items are legit. They have been around for as long as people have collected artifacts and probably always will be.

Sorry, but I highly doubt that was actually found by your Grandmother.

 

[Th3rty7]

Looks like it may have been a dovetail at some stage with that base.

 

[pickaway]

Cool piece, but I agree with SRV...

 

[wells]

the controversy surrounding these type of pieces makes them not collectible to most of us.

 

[d2]

I saw one and held it in my hand that a friend had found and he had witnesses that saw it come up out of the ground. I figure that some are fakes but I know for a lead pipe cinch that some are the real McCoy. I say this not having a picture to show...d2

 

[Twitch]

There appears to be a small nick in the bottom left corner. Is there any patination change around that?

 

[Get-the-point]

This almost always starts a controversy and usually ticks off the person posting one of these and asking about it, but 99.99999999999999% of those Thunderbirds or Eagles are fakes and tourist items. It is the general consensus among collectors that none of these items are legit. They have been around for as long as people have collected artifacts and probably always will be.

Sorry, but I highly doubt that was actually found by your Grandmother.

Very well put SRV, and it does cause alot of controversy but I do agree.