amulet ? ?

[rip]

hello all was hopeing someone could tell me what this is and a value,bought it in a box lot at auction so dont know were its from.looks to be made of soapstone and has black squares painted on it thanks....Terry

[WVaTom]

Do you know any more about it? Where it might be from, is the stone native to the area,what kind of area did it come from,riverbank,plowed field etc? Did they have other artifacts for sale like projectile points? If so could you describe to me if they were from the same collection?

I am going through my books now and hope too be of more help. Give me a few hours and I will do my best. Someone else might know too. Nice item no matter what it is!

If it is authentic it should be worth a nice bit of money depending on how common a item. I have never seen anything like that around here. Except a wooden or bone shaft tool.

[rip]

hey Tom,It is 3 inches long and the stone is not native to this area.I have a book on artifacts from the mid west but couldent find it in there.Need to get me a book on eastern artifacts,also looked in "Arceology of ny" nothing there.It was bought by my brother a long time ago so dont know if there was any thing else for sale there.I also was thinking net sinker. I was thinking it could be esckimo as they use soapstone.Thanks for the help.....Terry

[Blythe_Spirit_47]

Looks like a primitive plumb bob.

[hoser]

Boy, never seen anything like this. I would send a photo to one of the colleges or universities and see if they can ID it for you. I like the net weight theory though.

[WVaTom]

a pendant. I am looking for the source of that color soapstone/steatite. I have 2 pipes made from soapstone but they are light in color. seams amulets had 2 holes in them. one at the top and 1 at the bottom. still looking. once i find the source of the stone i will be able to do alot better.

[PAPPY]

I HAD MY SON ( WHO DEALS IN NATIVE AMERICAN ARTIFACTS) LOOK AT IT AND HE SAY'S THAT IT IS A WEIGHT FOR A FISHING NET.....PAPPY

[rip]

Thanks for the info tom,and pappy.Pappy would your son know a value as im thinking of listing it on ebay? also I still think it could be an amulet do to the painted desighn .Would they do this for something like a sinker? Most sinkers from this area are usualy a rock with 2 notches on the sides.seems like a lot of work polishing and all for somthing as utilitarion as a sinker.thanks again ...Terry

[rip]

Originally Posted by WVaTom

a pendant. I am looking for the source of that color soapstone/steatite. I have 2 pipes made from soapstone but they are light in color. seams amulets had 2 holes in them. one at the top and 1 at the bottom. still looking. once i find the source of the stone i will be able to do alot better.

thanks Tom appretiate your help.have you ever been to Buckannon W.V.A. ? Have a friend that i havent seen in awile from there,and visited once,had a great time and hope to get back some day.

[WVaTom]

i think. nice area. hey rip, i have here a pic of a petroglyph from ohio. the person in the petrogiyph has a item hanging from his neck that looks alot like the item in your pic. i will try to get a pic of it today.