Expert: Ralph Salier - 10/4/2006

Question
Hi,

When I was 10 or 12 yrs. old in about 1964-66, I was playing in a creek in Dallas with a friend and found a large blue/grey stone in the creek with a crude face carved on it.  The back of the stone has been carved with flat sides coming to a point as if to place in a niche of some type or possibly just so the stone will stand up by itself for viewing.  It is about 8 inches tall and maybe 6 wide across the top and then tapers to a much smaller "chin" area.  

I cannot believe that in all the years I lived in Dallas and attended SMU and took Anthropology classes that I never took it to the Anthro. Dept. to ask someone's opinion.

My question for you is, do you know of any Indian culture that would have lived or passed through that area that would have created an artifact like that?  I wasn't aware of any cultures in that area that made artwork of that type.

Any thoughts appreciated.

Thanks,
Michelle Pinegar
Overland Park, KS

Answer
Hi Michelle,

Sounds like a very interesting artifact.  There are several cultures which lived in the area who were capable of "carving" effigies.  Not having a pic of the artifact makes it hard for me to provide something more difinative.  If you would be willing to send me pics of the object from all directions and send them to me at rsalier@hotmail.com and put "artifact pics" in the subject line, I'll be more then happy to give you my opinions and recommendations.

Ralph