[Bonetools] (no subject)

Thu Jul 1 06:22:47 CEST 2010

Dear Sonia,
In the first photo (of the decorated side) I seem to see 2 small holes (for rivets?) on the left extreme, and perhaps another one on the right extreme. 
And the 5 large holes - do they continue all the way through? If they do, it could be a horizontal handle (perhaps 1 of 2) to carry something (sack or basket) hang on 5 ropes below this handle, with the ropes tied together above it. I have seen some rather modern bags of this sort.
Etan Ayalon
Israel

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From: bonetools-bounces at listserv.niif.hu [mailto:bonetools-bounces at listserv.niif.hu] On Behalf Of S O'Connor
Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 2010 4:50 PM
To: 'Mailing list for archaeologists of the research group for the study ofobject and waste of bone,antler. ivory and horn.'
Subject: Re: [Bonetools] (no subject)

Dear François,

The scale is inches. The finder mentions only the 5 holes which are visible so I do not think that the ends are pierced.  There seems to be no context beyond being from St Lawrence Island, Alaska, I do not know if the phrase 'picked up' means that they found it on the ground - it could equally mean that they bought it as a curiosity in a local shop. The age is not known.  I agree that the photographs are difficult to view.  I can suggest that Clare contacts the enquirer with our questions if anyone thinks this is worthwhile.

Sonia

Dr Sonia O'Connor PhD FSA FIIC ACR Honorary Visiting Fellow, University of York

Post-doctoral Research Fellow

Archaeological Sciences

Division of AGES,  

University of Bradford

Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD7 1DP, UK

tel 01274 23 6498 (office) 5210 (lab)

fax 01274 23 5210

From: bonetools-bounces at listserv.niif.hu [mailto:bonetools-bounces at listserv.niif.hu] On Behalf Of François Poplin
Sent: 30 June 2010 14:19
To: Mailing list for archaeologists of the research group for the study of object and waste of bone, antler. ivory and horn.
Subject: Re: [Bonetools] (no subject)

Please,

what is the context ? The age ? The length (6+ cm or 6+ inches) ?

Are the extremities pierced ?

I cannot enlarge nor clear up the image, wich is rather dark. 

[If it were recent,] it [would] make me remember of some handle of some tea or coffee pot, made of some synthectic material of pre-plastic time.

Your's.

S O'Connor a écrit : 

Dear Alice,

The following query and attached images came to me via Clare Ward at the British Museum who has requested that I forward them to the bonetools discussion list to see if anyone can help with the function of this piece.  It is not clear to me what the materials is from these photographs but what I can see is consistent with an ivory of some species.  I am happy to pass thoughts back via Clare.

All the best,

Sonia

Dr Sonia O'Connor PhD FSA FIIC ACR Honorary Visiting Fellow, University of York

Post-doctoral Research Fellow

Archaeological Sciences

Division of AGES,  

University of Bradford

Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD7 1DP, UK

tel 01274 23 6498 (office) 5210 (lab)

fax 01274 23 5210

From: Sherry Doyal 
Sent: 29 June 2010 15:01
To: Caroline Cartwright
Cc: Clare Ward; Philip Kevin
Subject: FW: Identification?

Any guesses? S 

From: Ed Tennant [mailto:etennant2 at comcast.net] 
Sent: 29 June 2010 14:57
To: Sherry Doyal
Subject: Identification?

Dear Sherry -- I am a good friend of your cousin, Jim MacDiarmid. Started working with him in Alaska in the mid 1970's. Still talk to him a couple of times a week, brushing up on our German and exchanging recipes. He suggested that I forward these photos and background information about a fossilized piece of ivory that so far no one can identify. Below is the info I sent to Vincent LaFonde at the Canadian Museum of Civilisation. I think you will find the piece curious and if I am lucky you will be able to say "Eureka!" -- My best regards, Ed Tennant

Dear Colleague:

  Although I am now retired here in Albuquerque, I worked as a language education consultant in rural Alaska for about 30 years. Over a ten-year period I worked with the elementary school staff at Gambell on St. Lawrence Island. During that time I picked up several pieces of fossilized ivory artifacts. One is particularly intriguing and somewhat mysterious, as, so far, no one can tell me what it is. The first suggestion was that it was a guide for the hitch on a fan-shaped dog team. The elders at Gambell tell me that that type of sled hitch was never used on the island. Fan hitch specialists also say they have never seen anything like that to guide traces. So, after twenty years I am still trying to find out what this object may have been used for. At the suggtestion of my Canadian friend Jim MacDiarmid (currently a language consultant in Juneau, Alaska) I have included two photos: a front view and a top view. The back is somewhat roughly hewn and is not as polished as the front. Note the stick figure in the center that  has the "eye of awareness" (ellam inga)  as its head. This may suggest that the object may have been used in some religious ceremony. The five equidistant 1-cm holes run completely through the piece from top to bottom-- I would be most grateful if you could identify this unusual, artifact that is from the Bering Sea Punuk culture (800-1200 C.E.).

My sincere thanks -- Ed Tennant

etennant2 at comcast.net

Y

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