Need help identifying Native American artifact.

[simpsons479]

I found this a few years back in Okoboji, Iowa where there once were a large number of Native Americans living. I found it on a beach near a historical site where a massacre had taken place. A local historian thought it was most likely from a necklace or headdress due to the hand drilled hole. I'm wondering what kind of bone/claw it is...any ideas? Thanks for looking!

 

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[Jon Stewart]

Looks like an bone awl. I have one similar but without the hole.

 

[pippinwhitepaws]

bear maybe...

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Bu

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[IlliniGuy]

Sorry Simpsons, this is entirely natural including the hole. It is a fish spine, I believe from the Perch family. Here is one I found. View attachment 815748

 

[simpsons479]

Thanks! I was wondering if it was just a fish bone since I found it on a beach and its not curved enough to be a claw/talon. Thanks for confirming!

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Natural fish spine bone. Not an artifact.

 

[larson1951]

the correct name is a pectoral spike from a channel catfish.....
.....there are two of them .......a left and a right
the hole is natural
these were used for perforating tools sometimes
i would have to see it in person to be able to tell any more

 

[Jon Stewart]

Mine is a small animal bone, smooth to the point and solid round with no groove. But about the same size and shape. It was found at an indian site on the desert. If I could ever figure out posting pictures I would post it.

 

[GatorBoy]

Definitely fish and natural although it could be pectoral or dorsal.
The Catfish here anyway have small back facing barbs.. here is a black drum pectoral.


For some reason we all seem to keep or at least notice these things huh.

 

[GatorBoy]

I know I would have used these in Jewlery.

 

[larson1951]

yes you are right
it could be a dorsal spike also
someplace i have a very well used and polished perforating tool that is huge
about 6 inches long
it must have came from a catfish that weighed at least 50 pounds or more

 

[GatorBoy]

Wow.. you get some big blue cats out that way don't you?
Mabey flatheads too?

 

[urbantreasure]

So you are saying it is a natural fish spike but that these types of spikes were used as a perforation tool by early natives?

 

[urbantreasure]

Well any "artifact" that could be used as a decorative item, tool or weapon, all in one, is fine by me!

 

[GatorBoy]

Yours is only natural but you noticed its possiblity as did they it seems.

 

[NC field hunter]

Don't feel bad. I have one of those in with my basket of broken points. On top of that, I thought it was a pike or gar bone, related with the mouth or head of the fish. Glad you posted this, if not, I'd still think I had a mouth bone to a gar.

 

[GatorBoy]

Gar scales were another fish item sometimes utilized.
Knives and even points were made from them.
We have some giant alligator gar down here with solid scales like bone armor perfect for tool making.

 

[NC field hunter]

Gar scales were another fish item sometimes utilized.
Knives and even points were made from them.
We have some giant alligator gar down here with solid scales like bone armor perfect for tool making.

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=816131"/>

The pic you sent me of the alligator gar has been sent to nearly every one I know. It's gone viral. Lol!

 

[GatorBoy]

Haha