Northeastern Hardstone 2: the Gouge

[Charl]

In addition to the adz, the gouge was also a woodworking tool, more common in the Northeast and I think the Pacific Northwest(?). This first one is my only personally found gouge. It's a grooved gouge, with a shallow groove on the backside and sides. I found this in Westport, Ma, less then 60 seconds after the owner walked into the field and told me she had decided to post her property and I would not be welcomed back. "Well, OK, you can stay today" says she, turns her back and walks away, I take 2 steps and pick this up!

 

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[Charl]

These would all be classified as plain gouges, the last from north of Boston, the other 2 from RI.

 

[Charl]

This is the earliest form of gouge from New England, known as a Channeled Gouge and dating to the Early Archaic.....

 

[Charl]

A fine 3 1/4" miniature gouge from RI, found in the mid 1800's......

 

[digordie]

Those are amazing...never have seen anything like those before.

 

[Tnmountains]

Wow what a group of really nice tools. I have seen chisels posted before but not gouges. They have some fine detail and polish. I imagine they were highly prized. So the use would have been numerous from bowls to boats ?

 

[rock]

Cool you dont see those too often. I thought of a boat stone when I first saw it before I read about them.

 

[Charl]

Wow what a group of really nice tools. I have seen chisels posted before but not gouges. They have some fine detail and polish. I imagine they were highly prized. So the use would have been numerous from bowls to boats ?

Thanks much! Yes, I believe they did have numerous uses. From bowls to boats. And they were apparently prized by some Northeastern cultures. They are often found as grave goods in burials of the Maritime Archaic Complex of Atlantic Canada and coastal Maine. That Late Archaic culture was focused on deep sea resources, as evidenced by the remains of deep sea species like swordfish at their campsites. So they made deep-sea worthy craft with their gouges. Here's a gouge that's probably a Maritime Archaic piece, and from the Kennebeck River in Maine.

 

[Charl]

Thanks for your comments, everyone. Appreciate it.

 

[Tnmountains]

Big difference in the way I catch swordfish... and an archaic guy in his boat. Be like hooking one in a kayak. I never would have thought them to go after or depend upon deep water species. This is very interesting and thanks for sharing.

 

[mainejman]

Nice gouges charl.I've noticed some gouges have blunt ends others gave points.They definetly are multi purposed.Also some are full channeled some just a little on the end.Thanx nice to see stuff from the N.E.

 

[Charl]

Big difference in the way I catch swordfish... and an archaic guy in his boat. Be like hooking one in a kayak. I never would have thought them to go after or depend upon deep water species. This is very interesting and thanks for sharing.

Tnmountains, here's a good article describing this deep-sea fishing archaic culture:

The Rooms Provincial Museum

 

[pickaway]

Nice thanks for the look.