Relics of the American West: 1850-1920
Lot 2050:
Description
This diverse assemblage of indigenous artifacts represents a sophisticated kit of domestic and utilitarian tools, primarily featuring worked bone, wood, and tanned hide. The centerpiece of the collection is a prominent 17-inch curved rib bone, modified with deep, rhythmic transverse notches and identified as a musical rasp or tally bone. Accompanying this is a substantial wooden implement, approximately 25 inches in length, which likely functioned as a digging stick or pestle. The grouping further includes a variety of smaller bone fragments housed in a vintage cigar box, with pieces ranging from 3 to 8 inches. Notable among these are bone segments with circular drilled apertures, historically utilized as shaft straighteners or wrenches for arrow production, alongside potential awls and pressure flakers. The collection is rounded out by several lithic and decorative objects, including a side-notched chert projectile point and various shells, one of which features a drilled suspension hole for use as a bead or pendant. Additionally, a detached section of tanned buckskin is present, likely serving as a fragment of a utility pouch or bag rather than a binding. Completing the grouping are various faunal remains, including vertebrae and limb bone fragments that exhibit authentic weathering and potential butcher marks. This entire assortment serves as a significant study collection of early resource processing and material culture, currently preserved in as-found condition with age-appropriate patination. Please see photos.
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