Pipe Found Help ID ? Moved

[Hunter1805]

[h=2]Pipe[/h]

I was in a field and had a signal and dug down looking for the metal and out comes the rarest pipe ever found "So I am told", a contact period Soapstone Pipe with letters on it. It has early colonial European letters on it most likely Jesuit contact around 1550-1650. I understand that No other pipe ever found has letters on it. It has a cross on the back, the letters H and S. We are looking for signers of treaties signed around then to help ID who the pipe was made for or the owners of the pipe. I then looked at the cross on the back and said if it was not a cross and it was a letter such as the letter I then it would read "" I H S "" as on top of the cross "In His Service" Folks I need to know what else you can tell me about it. and the value of such an item. I believe it has potential to be worth many thousands. Its face is that of a snapping turtle. Any private e-mails would also be appreciated. Thanks for looking​

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Last edited by Hunter1805; Jun 03, 2013 at 09:13 PM. Reason: MISSING WORD​

 

[Wyoming Valley Relics]

If the Spanish were through this area , there weren't many and didn't leave any record of it(to my knowledge) Jesuit missionaries were among the first white men to visit the interior of the northeast and record there visits. The Jesuit Relations: Index That is a link to the Jesuit Relations. This is the record of all there "adventures" in the new world.

From the artifacts you described i'd say a native made this and carved the letters because he liked them or to impress his white friends. soon after the Europeans arrived here stone pipes disappeared (exception being catlinite)

 

[GatorBoy]

Several including myself noticed right in the beginning that there is a pretty noticeable difference in the patina of the carving to form the pipe and the letters.. that's a pretty strong indication that they were done at different times.. maybe a Native American did it long after the pipe was made... maybe the pipe was a gift to a Jesuit And he carved it.
There was at least one reale found by the poster.
There was definitely somebody Spanish around.
Interesting find.
I'm just saying I'm very used to separating the cultures while artifact hunting. These are the Jesuit sites I'm very accustomed to.

 

[GatorBoy]

 

[Wyoming Valley Relics]

spanish reales are common in any colonial area and it not uncommon to find any other denomination . there was so little money in the colonies they used anything.

 

[pirateruben]

that is certainly a special find.....somewhat jealous over here!

 

[Doubter in MD]

my banner vote is in.

 

[Hunter1805]

I LIKE your story! I want more and with details! Your site sounds like a BOOK!

Started with a satellite photo and an old map that showed that a race track existed in about 1910-1915. Met the owner of the property and I was being nice and showing him the faint race track picture from the satellite photo and he said I was wrong. So he told me the race was over there and I said no I have the picture and you can see the track then he says " Oh I am sorry I remember my father telling me the fair grounds was over there """"""""" I say what .. Oh yeah the fair ground was on that side. My friend is 83 years old. . Well folks the rest is history. I was finding barber and seated and as many as 7 seated dimes and \quarters in a day. Indian galore and of course a Gold $5.00. !/2 mile from the road a small hill sits near the creek. Well we pulled 18 larges cents and some hard time tokens and a bunch of buttons from that small hill. I also found the a nicest Seated quarter you ever did see. Found a few Flowing hair large cents including some 1760 French coins. Also many muskets balls. Folks I have about 2000 Acers that I have permission to hunt and I will never get to all of it. I have also found a George Washington button and in another area we found over 60 coins dated before 1830's. There will be many who doubt what I have to say but I don't care. I have been at this a long time over 30 years. I am in a very historic area and it can't get any better then having great friends that allow me permission on their property. I have pictures of most all items of historical value or great worth. Folks the best part of finding places that I have and the beauty of detecting is this. " I don't really care about finding items. I get more joy and more pleasure taking people who have never found a seated coin, large cent military button of even an Indian head and finding them., I have at least 2 Acers that are still loaded with silver and Indians some people have a cheap detectors and they find Indians just about on top of the ground. Now that I enjoy seeing. We have lunch talk and it makes a great day of detecting. I have permission to detect my locations. The sites are posted with NO Trespassing signs and I have 100% access to all their property. It does not get any better then this. Now I am waiting for the crops to be picked and cut then I will be back again. OH, I did have my friends buddy put me on tilt when he found the 2nd George Washington button I was jealous !!!!

 

[unclemac]

Your story made may day. now....pictures please, the next time you go out...the lay of the land, perhaps some ideas of where the fair was held, the ghost of the race track etc.... and of course some in situs when you start swinging yer detector again. And I LOVE coins so let's see some of your good 'uns!

You sound like you are in the zone.

 

[Smurufett]

Simple answer... If you found it in relation to other native artifacts. I would say it is a trade pipe made by an indian to trade with the settlers of that time for your area. We have them for our area, shaped very differently, but usally with a face or pattern of some kind. (effingy) This one is most likely unique because it was made for a specific person. Research the letters. Flip it around like a puzzle piece in your mind. Its pretty cool find by the way, congrats!