BICAVES, OR DISCOIDAL STONES, TUBES, ETC.
Some years ago, Dr. J. F. Snyder coined the term “bicave,” or “twice hollowed,” as applying to these. He contended that the term “discoidal” was meaningless. I have always adopted his new word, and those who have not liked it have not offered convincing reasons for disregarding the term. It is possible for Latin scholars to coin many concise words to describe certain objects, and these words would convey precise meaning. This is done in palæontology, geology, and all other branches of science, and there is no reason why it should not be followed in archæology. The arguments to the contrary savor of pedantry.
Dr. Snyder’s term does not fit any other stone object, although Mr. McGuire, Professor Holmes, and others have all discussed these bicaves under the term “discoidals.”
There are many flat, thin discs of both stone and clay found throughout the United States. These could not be called bicaves, because they are not twice hollowed. But they mark the beginning of that form.
Of these discs, especially numerous in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ohio and along the Ohio River, there are three kinds: simple discs, discs with slightly depressed centres, and ornamented discs. The bicaves themselves are alike in outline, having depressed centres. But there are great differences in the depressions.
In the centre of Fig. 388 is a large disc of black slate around which is a well-defined rim. This form is rare. To the right of this specimen is a large quartzite bicave with a more extended rim. In Fig. 389 are four typical quartz and quartzite bicaves of general type.
Certain specimens in Figs. 389 and 391 have a second small but prominent depression exactly in the centre. Usually about this depression is a little rim.
Fig. 392 is a photogravure plate from the collection of Mr. F. P. Graves of Doe Run, Missouri.
Here we have all of the discs and bicaves present. In the lower row is a large polished disc with flat base, which is not concave on either side. To the left of it, one in which the concavity is slightly marked. The others range from this type to those that are perforated through the centre. In Fig. 390, Colonel Young’s collection, there is a bicave of unusual form, being high instead of broad, with slight concavities, yet having the central depression clearly indicated. These have been called “chunky” stones by those who have written regarding the famous Southern game played by various Indians in the South and which has been described so frequently that I dismiss it with the statement that round discs similar to those illustrated in this chapter were rolled along the ground and a spear or lance shot after them, and the stone when it fell over on the side was supposed to be transfixed by one of these projectiles. Or, the nearness of a projectile to the hole in the stone counted in various ways. There is an early historical reference to this game cited in the Conclusions, Volume II.
Fig. 387. (S. 1–4.) This series of fourteen circular stones, with depressed centres, and most of them perforated, is from the Andover collection. They represent the smaller bicave or discoidal stones. All of them are fine and interesting specimens. Materials: sandstone, clay, and granite. Localities: Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, and Ohio.
Fig. 388. (S. 1–4.) Discoidal stones from Kentucky; valley of the Cumberland River. The central one is of slate. B. H. Young’s collection, Louisville, Kentucky.
Discoidals may be common, circular discs with flat polished sides, or circular with concave sides and perforated through the centre, or with the centre rimmed out, as certain specimens in Fig. 387. In this figure all are bicaves save three. That all of these small ones were used in playing chunky games I do not believe. They may have served as gaming-stones in other events. Some of the ruder ones, of the small stones I mean, may have been spindle-whorls.
Fig. 389. (S. 1–3.) Phillips Academy collection. Locality: Tennessee. Material: quartz and quartzite.
Fig. 389 shows four beautiful specimens from Tennessee, Andover collection. These are not merely depressed in the centre, but have a high, fluted rim, the centre being cut out, and the surfaces on the inside of the rim either sloping toward a second depression in the centre, or made flat. All are highly polished, and of Tennessee marble or quartz. The colors vary from rich brown to spotted, with yellow predominating. Fig. 388, from Colonel Young’s magnificent collection, illustrates nine bicaves of various sizes and materials—the black slate one in the centre, flanked by those of beautifully mottled quartz on either side, and one of pure white quartz to the right of the centre.
Fig. 391 is a remarkable object with a slightly depressed top, and with the central depression plainly marked. Around this central depression is a rim.
In the “Handbook of American Indians,” page 391, Mr. Fowke has described the bicaves, and his description I here quote, as it is the best published up to this time:—
Fig. 390. (S. 1–2.) Barrel-shaped bicave. Hard, light-colored material. B. H. Young’s collection, Louisville, Kentucky.
Fig. 391. (S. 1–2.) Quartzite bicave found on sandy bank of Hightower River, Cherokee County, Georgia. Weight, 37 ounces. Translucent between the depressions. Pink by reflected light and pink by transmitted light. It has a perfect secondary depression, and is highly polished and perfect. H. M. Whelpley’s collection, St. Louis, Missouri.
Fig. 392. (S. 1–4.)
Various types of bicaves, etc. Localities: Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee. F. P. Graves’s collection. Doe Run, Missouri.
“Prehistoric objects of unknown use whose most typical form is that of a double-convex or double-concave lens. The perimeter is a circle and the sides range from considerably convex through plane to deeply concave. The diameter varies from 1 in. to 8 in., the thickness from one fourth of an inch to 6 inches, very rarely passing these limits; the two dimensions have no definite relation to each other. Some specimens are convex on one face and plane on the other; but when one face is concave the other is also. Of the latter form many have a secondary depression at the centre; others have a perforation which is sometimes enlarged until the disc becomes a ring. They are made principally of very hard rock, as quartz, flint, jasper, novaculite, quartzite, porphyry, syenite, and the like, though stone as soft as marble, sandstone, barite, and even steatite was sometimes chosen. No type of relics is more difficult to classify than these discs. The name first given them, and by which they are still commonly known, is ‘chunky stones,’ from the native name of the game played with analogous discs by Southern Indians. But the description of the game, considered in connection with the great variation in size and material of the specimens, shows that only a small percentage of them could have been thus utilized. Culin believes that a limited number may be definitely regarded as ‘chunky stones.’ He recognizes three types: (1) perforated (least common); (2) symmetrical, unperforated; (3) asymmetrical, unperforated. A similar diversity is observed in the stones used in the analogous Hawaiian game of maika.[[44]] From the smooth, symmetrical, highly polished ‘chunky’ stone they merge by insensible gradations into mullers, pestles, mortars, pitted stones, polishing- and grinding-stones, hammers, sinkers, club-heads, and ornaments, for all of which purposes except the last they may have been used in some of their stages, so that no dividing-line is possible. They present various styles and degrees of finish. Many retain their natural surface on both sides with the edge worked off by grinding or pecking, the latter marks possibly resulting from use as hammers. The sides may be ground down while the edge remains untouched; or, when made from a thick pebble, the sides may be pecked and the edge ground. Some specimens which are entirely unworked require very close examination to distinguish them from others whose whole surface has been artificially produced. It is possible, however, to arrange a large number of specimens from one locality in a regular series from a roughly chipped disc to a finished product of the highest polish and symmetry. The finest specimens, in greatest numbers, come from the states south of the Ohio River, and from Arkansas eastward to the Atlantic. The territory within a radius of one hundred miles around Chattanooga, Tennessee, and for about the same distance around Memphis, is especially rich in them. From southeastern Ohio to central Missouri considerable numbers have been found, though few of them are as well wrought as those from the South. Rather rough ones occur along the Delaware River. Beyond the limits indicated, the type practically disappears. Discoidal stones corresponding closely with Eastern types, save that the faces are rarely concave, are found in the Pueblo country and in the Pacific States.”
The remarkable stone disc, engraved and presented in Fig. 393, was found near a mound eight miles from Arkansas Post, Arkansas. Mr. H. L. Stoddard secured this specimen and permitted me to make illustrations from the photographs. There were also found two effigy pipes which are shown in Fig. 491.
These stone discs were found in considerable numbers by Mr. Clarence B. Moore at Moundville, Black Warrior River, Alabama. He figures several of them in “Certain Aboriginal Remains on the Black Warrior River” (Philadelphia, 1905).
The culture at Moundville was high as is evinced by the character of the objects found by Mr. Moore. These discs were more or less thickly smeared with paint, cream color or red.
Mr. Moore states: “The universal presence of paint upon these discs and slabs seems to offer a clue to the purpose for which they were used, and, until a better suggestion is offered, we shall consider them palettes for the mixing of paint.”
Fig. 393. (S. 1–3.) Engraved discs from Arkansas Post, Arkansas. H. L. Stoddard’s collection.
As ordinary slabs serve just as well as stones on which to mix paint, it is my opinion that these highly ornamented stones, if used for this purpose, were employed by the shamans in painting the warriors for certain ceremonies.
But the discs owned by Mr. Stoddard have not smooth centres as have Mr. Moore’s discs, and are apparently for other purposes than the mixing of paint.