May 17th 2014 Primitive American Artifacts Sale (12)
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/16/2014
Late Archaic early Woodland 5000 - 3000 B.P. Birdstones made of quartz are exceedingly rare. Rarer still is the broad “duck bill” like nose featured on this bird. Another attractive feature is the keeled or curved bottom which gives it the appearance of having “feet”. This is the only quartz birdstone known that has fully drilled holes. This bird is in Earl Townsend’s 1959 book. “Birdstones of North American Indian”, pages 594, 595. Earl described this bird as follows..”This little oddity seems to represent an aquatic fowl, with it’s wide bill and rounded head. Collected by Dr. Roland Bunch, of Muncie, Indiana, prior to 1940. In the collection of Dr. T. Hugh Young.”
Item Dimensions: L. 3 - 1/2" x W. 1" x H. 1 - 1/8".