someone killed my celt

[GatorBoy]

had a lotta rain this afternoon.. it washed out some good areas. I almost couldn't believe it when I saw this sticking up. I wanted to take an insitu pic. but it had started raining and I was struggling to keep my phone dry. turns out the part that I saw was all that there was.... real nice polish on this 1 too.

 

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[MinerGirl]

Alwayslearning,

Do you think it could be that the Indians would intentionally break the tools to "release" the "spirit" of the stone? If so, would the other pieces be close by? Just wondering.

MinerGirl

 

[GatorBoy]

Im sure of it. It is often referred to as "killing" that is the reason for the banner

 

[Rege-PA]

Your celt looks like an adz. The break would be consistent with the way it was used to scoop out wood. Mounted flat the pressure would break it at that point. Good find.

 

[GatorBoy]

thanks

 

[flintmel]

If the bit has a curve to it, its an adze. Don't give up the other piece may still be there!

 

[GatorBoy]

going back in a little while... we will see

 

[joshuaream]

Sometimes a broke is just a broke, albeit a nice one.

Not to be rude, but the theory that natives would make and break a common relic to release a spirit is silly. We understand quite a bit about pre-contact religious beliefs, and the notion that everything had a spirit is a modern invention. (Kind of like the idea that all groups lived in tepees and hunted tatonkas.)

Many historic groups made and ceremonially destroyed artifacts, but these were usually tied to wealth displays (NW coast potlatch, California bead and wealth blades, etc.) and the general thought is that wealth displays explain most prehistoric ceremonial destruction. Again, in this case you have a perfectly nice celt that was damaged during use.

 

[RGINN]

Cool find and probably broken by use or by the plow. Keep checkin the area. Like joshuaream's post. I have examined quite a few Plains Village Farmer era burial sites. There were items buried with them, mostly just common everyday items the person used in life, and they weren't broken or damaged in anyway to 'release the spirit' of the item. I haven't figured out if these items were included in the burial to be used in an afterlife or if the family just couldn't bear to see these things around as they would remind them too much of the deceased.

 

[GatorBoy]

thank you very much for your responses. no plows here. I'm in eastern florida. that type of stone doesn't even occur here. I'm leaning towards breaking during usage myself. p s.. still looking for the rest

 

[SOHIO]

found one similar the other day bad pic ...its broke from use

 

[GatorBoy]

Nice...thanks.