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Archaeology/what is this

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Expert: - 12/26/2010


Question

socket
I found this in central kentucky last summer,the water level was down because of the drought,Ipicked it on the river bank.I think it is a socket for a bow drill or bow fire starter mebe the white in the middle is old pine sap used for lubrication.

Answer
Hi Shane,

This is more likely to be a pigment grinder.  Small amounts of pigment like red ocher or charcoal would have been placed into the bowl and then ground with deer fat or some other media and then used to paint images onto people or bodies or perhaps onto other objects like leather etc...

The partner tool would be a pestle held in the hand to do the actual grinding.  

Fire starters were almost always wood, bark or other flamable material.  

Ralph Salier

Expertise

Archaeologist for the last 30 years. Norh American generalist and Hopwell culture/Red Ocher culture specifically. Lithics Expert and Ground Stone tools.

Experience


Past/Present clients
Numerous museums in US and Canada. Several University Anthropology Departments.

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