Pendant or Buckle?

[ToddsPoint]

Treasure_Hunter posted this pic on another thread.

These are usually called gorgets and are supposedly pendants. I think they were belt buckles. Metal buckles are ubiquitous and go way back in Europe. It seems to me that NA Indians would also use belts with buckles. I made a two hole gorget and attached it to a piece of leather. It works fine and looks good. Just throwing this out there. I love experimental archaeology and I’m always looking outside the box for answers.

 

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[Blackfoot58]

That’s a great idea. It never hurts to look at something from another viewpoint. That definitely works.

 

[antmike915]

Makes sense; good post Todd 👍

 

[Older The Better]

Would have never thought of that. Interesting thought, certainly seems possible

 

[CreekSide]

Some were thought to be used in the hair also. Belt is a new idea. I’m sure they had to have something to hold their pants up with.

 

[Tnmountains]

Interesting theory but Native American were wearing and trading them from first contact. Sometimes they were stacked on a necklace for adornment. Thus the holes..

 

[ToddsPoint]

Interesting theory but Native American were wearing and trading them from first contact. Sometimes they were stacked on a necklace for adornment. Thus the holes..

The silver gorgets in your paintings were trade items provided by Europeans.

Metal gorgets are military decorations that go back to Roman times. The fragile shell gorgets in the last pic were definitely worn around the neck. If you can find a painting by Catlin or Bodmer showing a stone gorget worn around the neck, I’ll be a believer. In the mean time, I’ll stick to my idea.

 

[pepperj]

The silver gorgets in your paintings were trade items provided by Europeans. View attachment 2108952Metal gorgets are military decorations that go back to Roman times. The fragile shell gorgets in the last pic were definitely worn around the neck. If you can find a painting by Catlin or Bodmer showing a stone gorget worn around the neck, I’ll be a believer. In the mean time, I’ll stick to my idea.

There's a old say take this a grain of salt-many have viewed the sellers items and let's just say the salt shaker is needed.

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[dognose]

an interesting point. I never thought about how a gorget could have been used as a belt buckle.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Treasure_Hunter posted this pic on another thread.View attachment 2108696These are usually called gorgets and are supposedly pendants. I think they were belt buckles. Metal buckles are ubiquitous and go way back in Europe. It seems to me that NA Indians would also use belts with buckles. I made a two hole gorget and attached it to a piece of leather. It works fine and looks good. Just throwing this out there. I love experimental archaeology and I’m always looking outside the box for answers.

Interesting concept, but I have also never seen antique photo or classic painting showing one used as buckle either. Unfortunately not enough portraits from 1800s to verify a lot of it.