dog/wolf tooth pendant?

[felton]

So far this is the best I have to offer. I found it at the Treyburn community in Durham at my old landscaping job about 4 yrs. ago.

There is a long history of indian activity there because of the trading path that came through the property. There was also one of the largest plantations there with 30,000 acres, and over 900 slaves.

It's right at 1 1/2 in. long. Every one I have seen has had a hole drilled for the cord, and none have had "tally"? marks.

So here's the question...Indian artifact?...Slave artifact?...

I'm stumped...

[arappaho]

Now that is reely, reely cool, felton! Great find.

Sounds like this find coincides with your artifact hunting in earnest.
I know the Treyburn area well, so it IS hard to answer your
question. The good condition of the tooth and the carved ball top
make me think African, but those tally marks are something you
would expect to see more on NA artifacts. I'm sure some
microscopic analysis would be able to tell about when it was
carved and with what type tool. I know it would be nice to know,
but either way, that's one special find!

Keep 'em coming!
Joe

[felton]

I don't have a microscope, but I did test an opossum tooth with a fresh edge of some of the rhyolite from the top of Mt. Tirzah, and a ginsu knife.
The rhyolite was almost useless until I made a nice groove with the ginsu. After that it made a good V shaped groove similar to the one I found. It took about 15 mins. to make one groove, so I can't imagine the time it took to carve the ball.

I plan on getting it checked out, and if it is slave related I'll probabally donate it to Stagville. Hopefully it wasn't something that a kid did 50 yrs ago for kicks.

[ghostrecon]

Nice artifact felton. Imo those were worn on a necklace by native americans. Like you I've only seen similar pieces drilled, that's the first one I've seen with tallies and a stem, heck of a find.