Indian artifact?

[davef]

Found this the other day in the Columbia Gorge here in Oregon. Close to the ancient fishing village at Celilo Falls just off the Oregon Trail. It's made from copper, hand stamped. It measures about 6 inches long and about 5/8 of an inch at the widest spot. Looks like about 22 gauge in thickness. Any guesses?

 

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[GL]

The symbol was a meaningful long before the Nazis adopted it.
Indians as well as all kinds of cultures have used the swastika for various means including luck and prosperity.

Might be quite old.

 

[relic lover]

looks like an indian crescent

 

[greydigger]

Indians didn't use shoehorns, but did immigrants?
"Swastica" means nothing. Not a Hitler first.
Joe

 

[GL]

"Swastica" means nothing. Not a Hitler first.
Joe

True. But what else would you call that symbol? It is commonly referred to as a swastika. Maybe it's a headband or a rim from a drum or who knows? It's definitely got swastikas on it though.

 

[Montana Jim]

"Swastica" means nothing. Not a Hitler first.
Joe

True. But what else would you call that symbol? It is commonly referred to as a swastika. Maybe it's a headband or a rim from a drum or who knows? It's definitely got swastikas on it though.

I think Joe was agreeing with you.

I see that piece as a handmade copper/brass bracelet, wrapped around the wrist (maybe ankle) made from trade good copper/brass and etched by an Indian for whatever meaning that tribe attributed to that symbol.

 

[davef]

Good point MJ. Never thought about it being a bracelet. I was thinking breastplate or necklace piece. Its shape now is obviously not the way it once was. I know the native americans used the swastikas for spiritual purposes. The Navajo used it as "the whirling wind" until the nazis started using it, then they rejected it's use. I'm going to try and research it locally also.

 

[GL]

I was agreeing with him too. We were both saying that Nazis didn't have a patent on the swastika which is true. I was just saying the symbol looks exactly like one to me. I was sort of hoping someone would know what it was called before the Germans got it. Indians and other cultures used that symbol for millenia. I figured copper scrap picked up or traded to an Indian and made into a bracelet or headband or something equally cool to find.