Because of its unusual high polish and slightly oval surface, one cannot well illustrate a tablet-like gorget which was found by Clarence B. Moore in Washington County, Florida, in 1902. This is a remarkable specimen, and although it is set down as having one surface flat and the other convex, it would be more accurate to say that the flat or upper surface is slightly hollow. The entire specimen is highly polished, so much so that it has a glossy appearance. The specimen is broken. After breaking it has been used, possibly by later Indians, for smoothing the sinews or similar purposes, as there are grooves worn across its larger diameter. These grooves almost obliterate the perforation. It is possible, but not probable, that the specimen was a pipe of the monitor type. There is a raised circular line still traceable, and this was originally one inch in diameter. As this is in the centre of the object at the broken end, where the specimen is one half inch thick, it is possible that this may have been the base of the bowl.
Fig. 327. (S. 1–2.) Unfinished problematical forms. From Georgia and Alabama. Material: quartzite and sandstone. Phillips Academy collection, Andover.
In the centre, to the right in Fig. 307, is half of a winged and perforated or butterfly-shaped stone. Becoming broken, the maker ground it until traces of the centre perforation had disappeared. Then he perforated the stone on either side after the manner of the bird or saddle stone. One should note that the stone is more polished on either side of the perforation.
Another winged perforated “butterfly” stone was broken long ago, and the Indian who found it drilled it at the top and wore it as an ornament. All the edges and perforations carry patina and evince great age. This is a very old specimen, and we may construct theories that the second owner made of it an object entirely different from that intended through the workmanship of the first.
Fig. 328. (S. 1–2.) Four problematical forms and one slate spear-head, from the collection of H. F. Burket, Findlay, Ohio. These specimens were found in Hancock County, Ohio.
Fig. 329. (S. 2–3.) Three specimens from Stephen Van Rensselaer’s collection, Newark, New Jersey. These were found near Orange, New Jersey, and are typical New Jersey specimens. The lower one has been broken and is covered with patina, and appears to be a very old specimen. These two lower ones are dark gray slate.
The Andover collection contains a broken gorget of curious, mottled stone. It was found in the Connecticut Valley. There were two perforations, one on either side of the centre. The one that remains shows unmistakable wearing in the perforation. The specimen is not a work of art, but it is one of the most important in this entire series, if not in the whole museum, because it clearly and positively indicates that two strings were put through the opening, and the wearing is on such side of the perforation as could come from two strings and not from one. The wearing is at the right of the perforation on one side, and at the left of it on the other. Further, the specimen was worn across the body or at least tied across something rather than in a vertical position; the thong or cord slipped and caused the wearing. To the suggestion that the specimen should show wearing on four sides of the perforation rather than on two, it may be remarked that the string while flat and tight against one surface was tied to something on the other side that elevated or brought it out more from the perforation. Possibly this may seem ambiguous, but if one experiments with strings, as has been done, he will observe that it is impossible for one string to cause the wearings indicated. One string drawn back and forth will cause a polish on the edges of the perforation at the same places on either side.