Museum Expedition 1904, Museum Collection Fund

Bird Stones: A Mystery

Bird stones have been found from Nova Scotia down along the Eastern Seaboard and as far west as the Mississippi River. There are many theories about their function. Were they charms associated with religion? Were they fastened to clothing to indicate status or stage of life? Were they ancient game pieces or handles for a spear thrower (atlatl)? All bird stones are carved from exceptional types of hard stone, and the quantity of surviving examples indicates that they were quite popular.

Bird Stones: A Mystery

Bird stones have been found from Nova Scotia down along the Eastern Seaboard and as far west as the Mississippi River. There are many theories about their function. Were they charms associated with religion? Were they fastened to clothing to indicate status or stage of life? Were they ancient game pieces or handles for a spear thrower (atlatl)? All bird stones are carved from exceptional types of hard stone, and the quantity of surviving examples indicates that they were quite popular.

Bequest of W.S. Morton Mead

Bequest of W.S. Morton Mead

The figure is the one third from the left. It has an open mouth with closed eyes. One of his arms is held across his chest and the other across the chest touching his shoulder. His head has a serrated edge as if wearing a headdress. See also 03.325.4528- 34. These figures were all found together inside a painted pot. They were purchased from the German trader, Cronmeyer.

Silver bracelet with one green-colored stone set in a silver sunburst medallion. The front of the band consists of four (4) ridges alternating with three (3) furrows. Each ridge is decorated with roughly parallel, vertical incisions.

Stone carved in the shape of a bird with a hole drilled into center.

Black steatite pipe bowl with a serrated projection decoration on the short stem portion and grooves around the pipe bowl..

Anonymous gift in memory of Dr. Harlow Brooks