HEMATITE ARTIFACTS
ST. CHARLES CO., MISSOURI AND
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
PRIVATE COLLECTION
RETURN TO PAGE 2

   These hematite artifacts illustrate both raw pieces,

preforms ("blanks") and finished examples that have

been found on Archaic and Woodland sites in Illinois

and Missouri. The finished artifacts are in the form of

one hemisphere, four plummets and the piece at top

right that appears to be a polished fragment of an axe.

The two large tear-drop shaped pieces are plummet

preforms which are usually referred to as "blanks."

The irregular piece at top center shows altered surfaces

that were polished and scratched plus edges that were

pounded.

   The two perforated plummets are called Godar

plummets and date to the Archaic period. The plummet

in the bottom row with the groove and pointed base is

called a Snyders Grooved plummet. They were being

made during the Middle to Late Woodland period.
The other grooved plummet has a groove near its

flattened styled base. This variety is called a Gilcrease

Grooved plummet and dates to the Archaic period. 

   It is interesting that most hematite artifacts are still

rather enigmatic. They were made into the shapes of

cones, hemispheres and plummets. None of these

artifacts have absolute use definitions proven by

science. It is speculated that plummets were used as

bolas. There are also some suggestions that they

were used as net weights. One of the few obvious

hematite tool forms are the axes, both grooved
and ungrooved.

 RECENT LISTINGS   HOME   ORDERING