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Karl Williams Site Collection
Description: This is an unmodified portion of a deer antler, which was likely used as a drift, or flint-knapping tool. At the tip there is some polish, probably from use wear. The opposite end is uneven, possibly the result of breakage. The antler, which is yellow and dark grayish brown in color, has been reassembled from four pieces glued together. This piece is characteristic of the Red Ocher or Glacial Kame Cultures. Some Late Archaic groups living near the Great Lakes seem to have shared religious beliefs and rituals even though they had somewhat different lifestyles. Their names come from their practices of making copper artifacts (Old Copper), sprinkling powdered iron ore on burials (Red Ocher), and placing burials in natural mounds of glacial soil (Glacial Kame). Almost all that is known of these groups comes from their burial sites. Sadly, few of these sites have been studied by archaeologists; most have been disturbed or destroyed by erosion or quarrying. Thus, much valuable information has been lost forever. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: A4189_000005_001
Subjects: Prehistoric peoples; Tools, Prehistoric;
Places: Karl Williams Site Collection