First Beads/Questions?

[catherine1]

I found these two beads over the weekend. They are the first ones I have found at this site. I also found this little cup, that is a little over a inch square. I don't know what type of material the beads are made of. The bigger one is weird. It is red on one side and white on the other. The small cup looks to be made of hematite. What do you guys think the material is from this pic?

 

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[jpitt1970]

The "beads" actually look like pieces fossilized Crinoid stems, a type of sea plant. The Indians did sometimes use them as beads though.

 

[catherine1]

That is what the red and white one looks like--a fossil! It has drill marks at the top of the the hole. I had to clean/re-drill the holes out with water and a paper clip on both of them before I made it thru. I was hoping that someone would comment about the cup material please. Thanks Keith. And the post!!

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Those are Crinoid Fossils and probably not Beads, though they did use some Crinoids for Beads. They are usually polished though and those don't look like they are. They just look like the insides have eroded away which is common for Crinoids.

 

[catherine1]

Thanks guys. I was wondering what was up with this stuff. Thanks for your input/knowledge. I learn so much from this forum and it is greatly appreciated! This drought is driving me crazy.

 

[Twitch]

Catherine - Pitt and SRV are 100% correct, the two items at bottom are Crinoid fossils. They commonly have eroded centers making them viable candidates for beads but are much, much more common fossils than beads. The cup is an iron or hematite concretion. They are also naturally occuring. A great many people refer to them as paint pots, though if you'll look back into the T-net archives there is a lengthy discussion where it is concluded they are far more likely to be natural than artifacts of ancient man. That being said every single artifact hunter from about Kansas east and Michigan south has a can / bucket / drawer / spot in the garden that includes piece like the ones you found. Though not artifacts they are interesting and unique pieces and are far too cool to leave laying in a creek somewhere - they must be brought home. Neat finds.

 

[catherine1]

Thanks Twitch. Everything I find that has a unusual or concentric shape, plus worked flint, and anything that may look like something----- I bring home. I clean the dirt off them. And then try to imagine what they used them for, or were making. All I know is they had a very hard life! And the only record we have of it is what we find. And if it was not for you and people like you on this forum. We would have to rely on the government to give us this information. And we don't want to do that. Thanks for the help guys!