A REPAIRED HOPEWELL PLATFORM PIPE
 
RANDOLPH COUNTY, ILLINOIS
MARY MATHEWS COLLECTION

PLATFORM PIPE
MIDDLE WOODLAND HOPEWELL CULTURE
RANDOLPH COUNTY, ILLINOIS
MARY MATHEWS COLLECTION

   Mary Mathews found this interesting stone pipe in a cultivated field in Randolph, County, Illinois several years ago. It's been roughed up a bit from agricultural implements but the heaviest damage evidently occurred prehistorically. The old damage is what makes this artifact so interesting.


CLICK ON PICTURE FOR VERY LARGE IMAGE
A REPAIRED HOPEWELL PLATFORM PIPE
RANDOLPH COUNTY, ILLINOIS
MARY MATHEWS COLLECTION

   The attempt at repair is obvious. Two holes were drilled on each side of the bowl near the breaks.

   Prehistoric repair of broken ceramic bowls, ground stone objects like gorgets and even flaked "ceremonial"  bifaces is evident from drilled holes and notches cut around the breaks of these artifacts. Attempts at repair is evident on Stone Age artifacts all across North America.


CLOSE-UP OF THE STEM HOLE
BROKEN HOPEWELL PLATFORM PIPE
RANDOLPH COUNTY, ILLINOIS
MARY MATHEWS COLLECTION

   Hopewell pipe stem holes are fairly small in diameter as can be seen in this picture of the broken end of this repaired pipe. The holes are straight sided unlike stone drilled holes which are conical. These holes were probably drilled with a hollow cane along with water and a fine stone grit.

   It's odd that this Hopewell pipe was so badly broken with both ends broken off. This type of break pattern is often seen on some Hopewell pipes that have been excavated from mounds where they were prehistorically placed as burial offerings. One possibility is that this pipe was recovered anciently from a mound and the individual attempted to use it once again by reattaching the broken parts.


REPAIR HOLES
BROKEN HOPEWELL PLATFORM PIPE
RANDOLPH COUNTY, ILLINOIS
MARY MATHEWS COLLECTION

   This picture shows two of the four repair holes on this pipe. 

    How this pipe was broken, no one will ever know. But it appears that an attempt at repair was made. Evidence of this is indicated by the two holes that were drilled on the edges of both breaks. The broken ends, that have not been found, probably had corresponding holes that allowed them to be tied back together. The repair may also have been aided with the application of some type of natural adhesive that may have been either animal, vegetal or mineral in origin. Capt. John Smith reported that "with sinew of deer and the tops of deer horns boiled to a jelly the Virginia Indians made glue that would not dissolve in cold water.

"REFERENCES"

1912, "Handbook of North American Indians, North of Mexico", by Frederick Webb Hodge, p. 226.

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