ice glider??.....Quito?

[larson1951]

hey Quito,
I think this is the same kind of piece as the ones that you have
maybe someone can give us some more information on this subject
can you post the images of the pieces you have here for comparison??
maybe Coteau has some knowledge of this subject
lars

 

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[quito]

Here are mine Lars.

I read that they made these about 5 1/2 inches long, put the pointy end on, then attached feathers somehow to the rear end, and somehow they propelled these things and the object was to get them to travel the farthest with the flight and sliding on the ice.

I would like to hear more about what Coteau may know about your snow snakes, and anything he could add about these ice gliders.


All 3 of mine are real close to the same size, how long are yours?

 

[larson1951]

I will go and find that piece and my ruler and measure it
BTW, how long are your pieces?
lars

 

[coteau]

The best publication on ice gliders that I know of is, "Papers In Northern Plains Prehistory and Ethnohistory: Ice Glider 32OL110". Edited by W. Raymond Wood. You should be able to find a copy at a library.

The Ice Glider site is in central ND across the River from Washburn in the Cross Ranch area. Back in the 70s, 184 ice gliders were surface collected by archaeologists after the site was first plowed for planting alfalfa and grass. The site is believed to be a Sioux Yanktonai Dakota winter encampment.

Ice gliders are very common on historic Arikara sites (the Leavenworth site in SD yielded 100s of ice gliders). They are also common on protohistoric to historic Mandan, Hidatsa, Atsina, Crow, Cheyenne, Kiowa, Teton and Yankton Dakota, and Yanktonai Dakota sites.

Quito's look like classic ice gliders (probably Arikara?). I don't have any ice gliders or snow snakes. I just find them interesting and read a lot about them.

Ice gliders had two feathered shafts inserted and wedged into the end of the rib. Most of the ribs came from bison, but deer and even domestic cattle ribs were used in the later years.

Ice gliders were used in a gambling game in which players alternately cast various kinds of darts along a smooth course, usually of snow or ice, to see who achieves the greatest distance (Culin 1907). I believe snow snakes were used in the same kind of game.

 

[coteau]

I just remembered that I have this picture from the state museum of ice gliders and a snow snake.

 

[quito]

Thank you Coteau, very informative.

Lars all of mine are between 5 1/2 and 5 3/4 inches. They are all pretty close to the same size.

Joel