Platform pipe - Southwest Georgia

GaRebel1861

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Jun 16, 2011
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This is one of the best finds that I have and it started off as just another day at the creek. Yesterday, I went with my wife and daughter along with my sister and her husband to cool off from this 100+ degree heat we are having here in Southwest Georgia. Shortly after we got in the water, which was less than knee deep, my sister pointed out two flint tools she spotted laying on the creek bed. These finds told me that there was likely points in the area so I started looking as well. I began running my fingers through the sand and finding pottery shards. After I worked that area with little luck, I decided to move down stream and try another spot. I had to pull some limbs out of the way to get a new area cleaned. Thats when this pipe came up. I did not find any points but thats o.k. with this taking thier place! This will likely be the center piece in my collection for quite some time. Any thoughts or comments are welcomed!! I've also posted this find on "Todays Finds as well.
 

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My sister who was with me when I found the pipe was recently up north and had some time to visit a museum in Chicago and saw a display that contained a pipe very similar to the one that I found last July. I'm unsure where this was found but plan to look into it.The picture isn't that great because it was taken with her phone. Any thoughts?​
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Wow that does look like the bird on yours. It would be interesting to find out more info on that one to compare to yours. Are you going to call the museum to find out on theirs?
 

Wow that does look like the bird on yours. It would be interesting to find out more info on that one to compare to yours. Are you going to call the museum to find out on theirs?

Yes I do! There must be a story to this. (A story or belief from a long time ago)
 

It seems the museum might be a clue itself... what type of museum was it? Were the artifacts local to the area? Even the piece behind it could be a big clue.
 

It seems the museum might be a clue itself... what type of museum was it? Were the artifacts local to the area? Even the piece behind it could be a big clue.

"Pipe on display at Chicago Field MUSEUM of Natural history." is what she sent. I plan to look into their site. I think that this display may have been from a lot of areas.
 

Bad trend that is....
Here are a couple photos of the original find. Its one bad adze piece.

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That giant bird bowl makes me think of "The Thinker" :laughing7:
A friend has a Lorikeet bird, will do like that, too! :laughing7:

th
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:laughing7:

I grew up all over s.w. Georgia and know many creeks, blueholes, and water sources, some that were utilized by native americans. From what I understand, they were crawling all over the place there, years ago! :tongue3:
I also know of where diamonds were found in a creek bed off hwy 19.

Cool find friend! Pm me, ifn you anywhere around Lee or Mitchell county area, I may can put you on some spots. 8-)
 

Just amazed-- yet again--by this piece- and it's been on my mind. Over a month ago now, there was a show on the History Channel... I know how y'all feel about these sorts of shows, but I'm just throwing my 2 cents in. The show's called Unearthing America, and the topic was the Mayan connection to the (now) United States. They conducted their investigations in Georgia. Said there was no reason why a great civilization would not travel north. Apparently there's some evidense of this possibility? Thoughts? (no, I'm not swallowing this theory hook, line and sinker, but I DID think of this piece when I saw the show, and just wondering what you folks think about that) Yak
 

I definitely see a visual similarity with symbols from their culture.
 

Speaking of untrained eye. Lets take a look at the results of the use of yours.
Here is the little beauty you posted earlier.
.....question.... did you mix drinking and eBay?

I mean come on! This is hideous.

You seem to be an expert at everything here lately Gator Boy. How many authentic hopewell pipes have you ever handled? What makes you think you are any better at identifying a fake hopewell pipe, from a picture no less, than the guy posting it? He admitted it was fake and you blow up a picture and jump right on the bandwagon? What's the sense in that. Please, just tell me the number of authentic hopewell pipes you have ever handled.

Hippy
 

Manufacture marks That don't match the patina Of the rest of the stone Are a big red flag on anything.
Something Hopewell Is not immune to this somehow. I can show you a bunch of fake things If that's what you would like.
 

And back to this fine pipe......have you found anything out from that museum? I have been hoping something has got a connection to yours.
 

And back to this fine pipe......have you found anything out from that museum? I have been hoping something has got a connection to yours.

Rock,

Thank you for hopefully changing the course of this thread. :icon_thumright: To answer your question, I have not. But I plan to make some time soon.
 

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From what I've seen this pipe is clay, Mississippian, probably relating to the Southeastern Death Cult, and likely real. Not steatite and fake.
 

From what I've seen this pipe is clay, Mississippian, probably relating to the Southeastern Death Cult, and likely real. Not steatite and fake.

Good eye
 

I was very fortunate to be able to see and hold this piece shortly after Jim found it. What amazed me the most was how real it looked. I didn't know that plastic existed when this pipe was made!:laughing7:
 

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