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Gorget

Gallery Location
Not on View
Maker
North American Indigenous
Medium Ground stone, mudstone
Geography
Eastern North America
Date ca. 1000 BC-1650 AD
Dimensions 89 x 34 x 7 mm
Object number 957X233.5
Description

Archaeologists refer to these stone tablets as gorgets or pendants. They are commonly perforated with one to five drill holes and some are decorated with incisions. While their precise functions are unknown, many archaeologists speculate that they were worn on the body. Among many other potential functions, archaeologists also suggested some could have been used as bullroarers, ceramic ribs, and strike-a-lights.

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