My friend was excavating in their yard ,and found these three ball-like objects about 18" deep
in Sturbridge,Mass.
What is it...how old?
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Show them to Curt Hoffman
It appears that these three objects (I didn't realize that the first three photos show the objects on edge)are made of clay, probably fired. If so, then it would be possible to date them by thermoluminescence. But do show them to Curt Hoffman, an archaeologist at Bridgewater State University in MA. The pattern of marks on the side are fascinating and look to have been made when the clay was still damp and before it was fired. Plus the holes look drilled.
I changed the title from "Curious Clay Balls" to simply "Curious Balls" because Norman's comment caused me to take a closer magnified look at the first picture. Those markings could also be ammonite fossils. In any case, I think the holes go all the way through and that these objects are beads - whether clay or sedimentary rock.
Someone I only know as Millennium Twain wrote: "Similar to the 1-inch diameter clay beads that were popular on necklaces amongst our California Central Coast 'Chumash' peoples. Plain, or with a series of 6 vertical double-stripes around the perimeter ..."
When I first saw these photos, on the very small screen of my phone, my first thought was of Chumash "cogged or cog stones," oddly enough: http://bowersmuseum.blogspot.com/2008/01/objects-of-week-cog-stones.html
Someone also suggested "Clay loom weights" and another person remarked: "These look a little like fossil imprints to me. There are quite a number of similar things in the Black Hills."
I think the markings on the side are manmade, rather than fosssils. The bunched parallel lines and the indentations on a curve look to have been made with a pointed tool of some kind, impressed in soft clay.
I think it's a similar pattern made with the the same impression making tools in the wet clay. The bead on the right is just turned the other way. It's hard to tell if there's polish by the holes where beads in a strand would rub together...
clay bead at ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/AUTHENTIC-TN-MISSISSIPPIAN-BEAD-ANCIENT-INDIAN-ARTIFACT-AACA-/301085912090
Lucianne Lavin also wrote to me: "Tim, I have never seen anything like them locally. Interesting!"
Whatever they are made of it seems important that this unusual find exists and comes from Sturdbrige. I hope Curt Hoffman will comment.
Copy and paste this into a google image search: ANCIENT MANTENO CULTURE MT CROPS PRE-COLUMBIAN SPINDLE WHORL BEAD ECUADOR CERAMIC
Closer to home: "Clay bead forms included spheres, large barrels, ovals and tubular shapes. The small number of surviving examples of ceramic beads, maskettes, or effigies suggests they were rarely produced or were too fragile to survive the centuries. Narragansett made small clay balls or beads. A late prehistoric period clay maskette from the Delaware/Jersey area is perforated for suspension near the bottom. Another clay maskette made by Northern Iroquois resembles a tiny face, perforated on either side for suspension. Other fired clay pendants include effigies of people, animals or fish," says Tara Prindle at http://www.nativetech.org/beadpen/ceramic.html
Thanks Tim....that's the closest match I have seen yet...Thanks again
Viking ornaments.
One third thought, the pattern does seem very similar on two different beads. That would mean they were made with the same stamp.
And it looks like all three have the same pattern of straight lines above, or below, two curved rows that look like shell tips. I wonder if the third one also has the tiny paw-like prints, but out of sight.
Paw prints and possibly fish - maybe a sturgeon?
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