Description: This gorget is made of marine shell that is sandal-sole type; the shape is similar to the sole of a shoe or sandal, although it is not flat but rather retains the curvature of the shell from which it was cut. Engraved on the interior surface of the shell, on what would be the toe of the sandal, is an animal (perhaps an unborn bear cub) with an umbilical cord that follows the rim of the shell and ends near the animal's head. The heel end is white and toe end is yellowish brown in color. There are three holes drilled through the center; one is near the narrower end, and the other two holes are near the wider end. The gorget has been broken at the toe end and has been restored. There are two sets of two holes near where the item was broken, which were used to repair the item. This piece comes from Glacial Kame Culture. The Glacial Kame people are noted for their emphasis on ceremony, but their daily lives were much like those of other Archaic cultures. They hunted with spears aided by spear throwers. Deer, their major source of meat, also provided antler tines that were made into tools for pressure flaking flint knives and spear points, or into harpoons for fishing. Deer leg bones were cut and ground into sharp-pointed awls for sewing and basket making. Slate and coal from glacial deposits were made into ornaments, perhaps for "everyday" use. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: A0190_000003_1
Subjects: Prehistoric peoples;
Places: Jesse Snodgrass Collection