Antiquities of the southern Indians, particularly of the Georgia tribes . enticular inshape, with oblique margins. For the manufacture ofspecimens of this solid type—which we presume wasthe common form—a hard, black, close-grained stone,capable of receiving a fine polish, formed the favoritematerial, especially along the coast. So nearly in out-line do these frequently resemble the old-fashionediron weights in use in country stores, that these relicsare often spoken of, among the unlearned, as Indianweights. {See Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 11, 12,13, Plate XX.)It is probable that the smaller varieti
Antiquities of the southern Indians, particularly of the Georgia tribes . enticular inshape, with oblique margins. For the manufacture ofspecimens of this solid type—which we presume wasthe common form—a hard, black, close-grained stone,capable of receiving a fine polish, formed the favoritematerial, especially along the coast. So nearly in out-line do these frequently resemble the old-fashionediron weights in use in country stores, that these relicsare often spoken of, among the unlearned, as Indianweights. {See Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 11, 12,13, Plate XX.)It is probable that the smaller varieties were made forchildren, who, at an early age, were taught to imitatethis favorite amusement of their elders. This impres-sion is strengthened by the fact that numerous disksof pottery with the ornamentation of the vessel stillupon them, are found upon the sites of old villagesand at localities along the river-banks where thenatives congregated from year to year to fish. It is 1 Natural and Aboriginal History of Tennessee, pp. 190, 196. Nashville, 1823. AM. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHIC Ca NY. \ OSBORNESPROCESS DISCOIDAL STONES. 349 difficult to conjecture what uses these smaller discoidalstones and clay disks were designed to subserve exceptthe training of the little ones in the arts and rules ofthis ancient and universally-esteemed game. Beauti-ful varieties of pudding-stone (Fig. 12, Plate XX.),greenstone (Fig. 13, Plate XX.), talcose slate, soap-stone, flint, and even agate (Fig. 7, Plate XX.), wereemployed in the manufacture of discoidal stones of thesolid type. The regularity of outline and the degreeof polish are remarkable. The first modification of this customary shape isseen in those discoidal stones whose sides are slightlyconcave or convex. In some instances one side appearsconvex, and the other concave. (Figs. 9 and 10, PlateXX.) We turn now to the more elaborate forms ofthese discoidal stones, three of which are represented inthe accompanying plate. They are
Size: 1221px × 2046px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectindiansofnorthameric
