Could this be an Indian Artifact?

[R2D2andMe]

I just happened to be out hunting for more metal when I stumbled across this little guy. I wasn't near any usual trails. I was quite a ways into the woods, so I don't suspect it was thrown away trash or anything. I found it at the base of a large tree, upside down and in a depression in the trunk at ground level. He also has a little metal "tag" drove into the top of his head. Maybe used to hold a feather or something?

Any ideas would help. Where would I take to get verified? Art museum? Antiques Road Show?
Thank you in advance for any info/help.[/img]

 

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[dozer dan]

stone age Mr. potato head?

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

That thing will put a smile on your face LOL. Looks like it was stolen from Tiki-hut. Are those seashells pushed in the head?

 

[R2D2andMe]

Mr. Potato head Exactly! LOL. And since I was looking for anything like it, I sure was smiling all the way home.
Yes, they are shells embedded into it. Very similar to your examples. It's curious, because it was found in the woods of S.E. PA, and I have never found shells of this kind in the Delaware river or on any beaches of NJ. I have found them in bins at craft stores and such. Aren't they from warmer climates? Like Bahamas etc.?

 

[R2D2andMe]

Oh, and one other thing.
While walking back to my truck, I got to remembering that Tiki-thing that Peter Brady found in Hawaii. I don't like spiders, so I hope a don't wake up with a giant Tarantula on my chest like he did. Creepy...

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Mr. Potato head Exactly! LOL. And since I was looking for anything like it, I sure was smiling all the way home.
Yes, they are shells embedded into it. Very similar to your examples. It's curious, because it was found in the woods of S.E. PA, and I have never found shells of this kind in the Delaware river or on any beaches of NJ. I have found them in bins at craft stores and such. Aren't they from warmer climates? Like Bahamas etc.?

I dont know. The shell examples pictured are from the Phillipines.
My guess would be that this is someones modern homemade craft or stolen from a Tiki-hut type of restaurant or display. I wouldnt take it to an Antiques Roadshow unless you are braver than I.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

A little search revealed the shells are called cowries and they are from the Indian Ocean and South Pacific.
So I would conclude that this is NOT native American Indian and forget about Antiques Roadshow IMHO.How rusted is the metal tag? It looks like a modern sakrete and shell craft. BTW welcome to TN.

 

[R2D2andMe]

Thanks. I have been a reader on and off for many years. But just recently retired my old detector, and bought a new minelab. This is my first post though, and I am really impressed at the speed that you all work at in here. I have to say it is probably one of the most welcoming and friendly sites that I have experienced. Thanks again.
The tag is not rusted much at all. Maybe because its brass or bronze? It twists about 1/8" left and right, but it doesn't come out. It does remind me of sacrete and shell. But isn't it just like sand, lyme (sp?) and water? That solution has been used for a long time, right? As for the impression in the bottom, it might have been on a post or whatever. Oh, and when I was searching on the web, I found a ring (finger ring) made for hunters. It appeared to be of similar composition. Not quite exactly, though.
Somebody at work suggested I send pictures to the Philadelphia art museaum, or Penn States Archeological (sp? again) Dept.? What do you think?

 

[Angelo]

A little search revealed the shells are called cowries and they are from the Indian Ocean and South Pacific.

So I would conclude that this is NOT native American Indian and forget about Antiques Roadshow IMHO.How rusted is the metal tag? It looks like a modern sakrete and shell craft. BTW welcome to TN.

Cowries are also found on the California coast, and the Baja Peninsula. I have personally found them while diving and they are called Chestnut Cowries.

 

[kuger]

A little search revealed the shells are called cowries and they are from the Indian Ocean and South Pacific.

So I would conclude that this is NOT native American Indian and forget about Antiques Roadshow IMHO.How rusted is the metal tag? It looks like a modern sakrete and shell craft. BTW welcome to TN.

We picked up buckets of Cowries in Hawaii last week and I am pretty sure I used to find them on the Calif coast too

 

[bradyboy]

Can we see the metal tag (price tag)
Have to say this post smells
is thing stone?
looks like theres a wick on the top
Brady

 

[ivan salis]

might be an islanders "memory site" or "ash dump " spot -- their ashes might have been dumped there "in the wilds"" as per their wishes with a "marker" (your item) left there by loved ones who dumped the ashes --the loved ones when they miss their beloved and get the blues ---go visit the site in the wilds and mourn / wail / gnash their teeth to get it out of their system-- thus it normally in a out of the way from folks spot-- ( since they want to do it in "private")

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Thanks. I have been a reader on and off for many years. But just recently retired my old detector, and bought a new minelab. This is my first post though, and I am really impressed at the speed that you all work at in here. I have to say it is probably one of the most welcoming and friendly sites that I have experienced. Thanks again.
The tag is not rusted much at all. Maybe because its brass or bronze? It twists about 1/8" left and right, but it doesn't come out. It does remind me of sacrete and shell. But isn't it just like sand, lyme (sp?) and water? That solution has been used for a long time, right? As for the impression in the bottom, it might have been on a post or whatever. Oh, and when I was searching on the web, I found a ring (finger ring) made for hunters. It appeared to be of similar composition. Not quite exactly, though.
Somebody at work suggested I send pictures to the Philadelphia art museaum, or Penn States Archeological (sp? again) Dept.? What do you think?

No I meant that it looked like sakrete cement sand mix that someone made and pushed some shells into it before it hardened. Its modern junk, sorry. It does look perhaps that it could go on a pole. It may also be a marker for someones ashes.

As far as the ring, post it here and lets have a look.

 

[Goodyguy]

Juju Bawanna Juju!

 

[Golden1]

Light the wick on top and let us know what it smells like

G1

 

[R2D2andMe]

Ivan - yes I can see that there is the posibility that it was burial related. I really didn't think about that. And if that's he case then it will be returned promptly, with proper notification to the park authorities that it is there. Maybe it can be protected.

Bigcyprushunter - I agree. It very well could be just a homemade cement mix. That's why a wrote to you all. There's way better ideas in this forum than I can come up with. I will post the ring pic at the bottom as well as pix of the metal tag thing and another stone item. A hammer, and it looks closer to my type of material; albeit more primative. As for the ring, as I said it looked similar, but when I got into anther website with the same (but clearer) picture, well it looks carved from a more solid rock. I am going to keep up with this as long as it takes. If I find out more I will post it. Thanks again

G1 - Sorry, that's not gonna happen.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Now that stone and ring looks interesting. Im no expert but the hammer looks authentic to me.

In my opinion the funny head is modern junk. I also think someone can dump ashes wherever they please but I doubt the area or any makeshift memorial will be protected.

 

[R2D2andMe]

Oh, yeah they are! I'm sorry! I was just using these pictures I found on the internet to compare a similar stone texture to mine. I didn't mean to imply that I found them, too.
The ring looks to be a more solid like stone (not quite granite), where the hammer appears to be much closer to the type of stone as mine, just older and smoothed out.
The woods were I hunt for local treasures is part of our local park system. To describe a little more detail, I was following a deer track looking for dropped or "shed" antlers. I had found half of what would be a very nice ten pointer and was trying for the other when I found the stone head at the tree. I had followed the tracks up a steep incline and across the pinacle for probably two to three hundred yards and also through very thick briary-type bushes (sometimes nearly on hands and knees) to arrive where this stone thing sat. It would be hard for anybody to just walk right up and drop it there.
Also, some of the stone structures that are left in the park date back to William Penn. That's another reason I was leaning toward Lennape Indans. They live throughout this whole region.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

It just doesnt look old to me and the seashells are not native to the area. Did you clean it much? A mystery as to what it is and how it got there. Maybe someone just tossed it. Could be a creamation ashes marker.

Try the American Indian board. http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/board,89.0.html

 

[R2D2andMe]

Good idea. I will try that now. Thanks. (Heck, I didn't even know there was an Indian Board in here. I think my amatuers' showin')