crinoids/indian beads

[hbrown22]

I've noticed a few crinoids posted as possible beads. When I'm out artifact hunting, I always pick them up, no matter the size or shape they are in. Should I be suspicious of the high polished ones? I do have several that have a dark glossy patina, a different "smoothness" to them and perfect holes. Maybe they were used for beads?

 

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[kansa54]

If you are finding them on a site in a field, I would say there is a good chance they were used as beads but finding them on a gravel bar on a river, I kind of doubt it. They could be; just hard to prove. I keep all that I find, they are a neat fossil.

 

[rock]

I've noticed a few crinoids posted as possible beads. When I'm out artifact hunting, I always pick them up, no matter the size or shape they are in. Should I be suspicious of the high polished ones? I do have several that have a dark glossy patina, a different "smoothness" to them and perfect holes. Maybe they were used for beads?

Lets see them if you have them handy.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Like kansas54 said, if you are finding them on a known site in a field then they could very well have been used as Beads. I have several I have found on Ft Ancient sites that I am sure are Beads because of the high amount of polish.

 

[catherine1]

I took a picture of my personal crinoid artifact site finds. I have found two different fossil types. Smooth ones with concise circular lines. And ones with a granular surface. Here are some examples of both. The two in the center are beads. Why? Because they are not irregular shaped and are similar to a modern bead. Durable stone beads with the hole already drilled. I would be all over that! If anyone has some more examples....Grim. Post them. Maybe there are more than two surface types? Hope these help and you can see the fossil/beads in the pic. HH

 

[stlcardinalsfan]

heres one of my crinoids, i found in my back yard.....thought it was an indian bead at first too becuase of the shape and the hole in the center

 

[ROCKateer]

If you are finding them on a site in a field, I would say there is a good chance they were used as beads but finding them on a gravel bar on a river, I kind of doubt it. They could be; just hard to prove. I keep all that I find, they are a neat fossil.

I have a good collection that I'll post when I gather them. But to what you were saying about field finds, well fields wash to creeks which continue on to rivers. Just a thought.

 

[hbrown22]

I'll try to dig a few out, probably got thousands :/ Many of the good ones I've used for necklaces and given to family. Most are just fossils, nothing more.

 

[Flea-bit Monkey]

Crinoids, I love finding a nice one. Keep all that I find.

Crinoid uses

Fossilised crinoid columnal segments extracted from limestone quarried on Lindisfarne, or found washed up along the foreshore, were threaded into necklaces or rosaries, and became known as St. Cuthbert's beads.

In the Midwestern United States, fossilized segments of columnal crinoids are sometimes known as Indian beads.

Crinoids are the state fossil of Missouri.

 

[monsterrack]

Crinoids are found all over, most are found in creeks, rivers and any where that something has cut into the formation that they where in. IMO Native Americans found these items and used them has a ready made bead.

 

[hbrown22]

Here are a few of my favorites. The four little ones are on a penny for size comparison. We keep all we find, no matter the size. The loose ones to the left of the penny are all chert/flint. We find a variety of colors. Most are just the weathered/eroded ones. We like them

 

[hbrown22]

Forgot about my red one. It's been stained, don't know if its been sitting in a mineral deposit or if it was dyed on purpose.

 

[Jon Stewart]

Good grief Heather Brown,LOL

 

[stlcardinalsfan]

so crinoids were used as beads?

im from southeast missouri. the one i showed actually was found in my back yard.....oddly enough we found 2 or 3 arrowheads in my back yard years ago when i was a kid....wonder if there is any tie-in or just a coincident

btw i live in the middle of town...not on a riverbed or anything just a plain ol city yard lol

 

[Charl]

Those are nice! I found an older thread showing some that apparently were drilled....

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/n...ifacts/122218-some-drilled-crinoid-beads.html

On the general subject of native Americans and fossils, this is probably the best book:

http://www.amazon.com/Fossil-Legends-First-Americans-Adrienne/dp/0691130493

 

[hbrown22]

Thanks! I'll have to check those out in the morning.

 

[catherine1]

OK. You blew me away with that picture HB. What a collection!!

 

[hbrown22]

Thanks! We always pick them up. My daughter (9 yrs old) & I have contests to see who finds the smallest I have some smaller than pictured.

 

[Jon Stewart]

unbelievable amount of crinoids!!!

 

[monsterrack]

so crinoids were used as beads?

im from southeast missouri. the one i showed actually was found in my back yard.....oddly enough we found 2 or 3 arrowheads in my back yard years ago when i was a kid....wonder if there is any tie-in or just a coincident

btw i live in the middle of town...not on a riverbed or anything just a plain ol city yard lol

You may not know it but once the area where you live was under water, the Ms. river was not always just a river the size it is today. You could be in a old river bed area, but there would be a gravel deposit close by. Also you could have a Native American site on your land all the SMART THINKERS say that glaciers brought a lot of gravel down from the north. Who knows,you found it and it's a find so I would keep it.