Paint stick & quill polisher.

[T Witko]

I also found these last week. You know that feeling you get when you know it something very special (even if it's broken), well it was there the instant I spotted the bird head. And it was still there the next day when I found the paint stick. Both of these are firsts for me.

I still have "that" feeling.

 

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[GatorBoy]

Nice artifacts! I understand paint stick...but quill polisher Please explain as we don't all hunt your area. Thanks. I'm guessing..burnishing tool. Just a guess. Quill polisher reminds me of an ex girlfriend.

 

[T Witko]

Nice artifacts! I understand paint stick...but quill polisher Please explain as we don't all hunt your area. Thanks. I'm guessing..burnishing tool. Just a guess. Quill polisher reminds me of an ex girlfriend.

Thanks. The attached drawings were from work done in around 1900 and I think "polisher" is misleading. It's my understanding that they were used to "flatten" porcupine quills so the quills could be used to decorate things.

http://www.cs.arizona.edu/patterns/weaving/monographs/owc_quil.pdf

This link provides some good information if you're interested.

I believe it's the markings on them that make them "ceremonial" or used for special work or piece.

 

[GatorBoy]

Thank you.. very cool finds!!

 

[natchitoches]

wow that's just fantasit
I vote banner

 

[NC field hunter]

Man!! Those are some of the coolest finds I have seen on here. If you don't make banner soon, something is wrong. Nice!

 

[Age_old]

Unbelievable! I bet it was the best feeling to pick those up, knowing the last human being to touch them was a Native American. Gorgeous finds!


Also like the 'M' shaped markings in both pieces. Pretty cool how the exact same mark is shown in those old drawings.

 

[bede2691]

Banner for sure! You guys sure make killer finds up there!

 

[old digger]

In reference to the ''quill polisher''; porcupine quills were flattened out, and then woven into designs on the outer portions of their leather moccaisns, and other leather clothes and carryalls. Nowadays the quills are dyed the many colors that are available.

 

[tomclark]

Man that's awesome!

 

[GatorBoy]

Thanks O.D.

 

[larson1951]

got my vote
only a few have shown up in the last 26 years
i call them 'quill processors' used to flatten quills with the bill end of the piece
this one of the coolest ones yet

 

[coteau]

Those bird heads are very special. I wonder if they were all made by the same clan or something. Are the ones illustrated by Steinbrueck from On-A-Slant Village or from the Motsiff village? Those excavations were back in 1905-1908 so it's hard to find info. What book did you find those illustrations?

 

[T Witko]

Those bird heads are very special. I wonder if they were all made by the same clan or something. Are the ones illustrated by Steinbrueck from On-A-Slant Village or from the Motsiff village? Those excavations were back in 1905-1908 so it's hard to find info. What book did you find those illustrations?

Thanks, I know Steinbrueck did some excavation at both sites as well as a number of others associated with the Mandan culture. The drawings are from Steibrueck's first attempt to get his findings published about 1902 and I came across the manuscript at the Hertage Center. The book was never published as he had written it but co-published with Jacob Brower in 1904 in the book "Mandan". I believe most of the artfacts pictured in the book were Steinbrueck's. I know that Brower's collection of maps, notes and artifacts were destroyed in a fire before the co-authored book was written and he needed Steinbrueck stuff.

 

[rock]

Museum quality rite there. Great finds

 

[RGINN]

Excellent finds. I knew that 'quill polisher' really referred to 'quill flattener'. That would have been way more easier than doing it with your teeth. The markings are interesting. Probably decorative, but if Barry Fell was around still and looked in he could tell us what they meant. (A small joke for Barry Fell fans, ok?)

 

[T Witko]

Excellent finds. I knew that 'quill polisher' really referred to 'quill flattener'. That would have been way more easier than doing it with your teeth. The markings are interesting. Probably decorative, but if Barry Fell was around still and looked in he could tell us what they meant. (A small joke for Barry Fell fans, ok?)

I always thought the M stood for Mandan then someone told me it was really an upside down W.

Lol

 

[yakker]

Amazing! You made my day just having a peek! Banner Banner! OORAH!

 

[theviking]

Great finds, very cool. Thanks for the view.

 

[naturegirl]

nice! That bird head is almost identical to larson's! (his artifact )