Pestle

Object Name:

Pestle

Object ID:

1977.502.002

Creator:

Eastern Woodland Indian

Description:

Effigy pestle. Found by George W. Barnes on his farm in Lyme, NH. Medium tan stone. Body is slightly tapering cylinder that leads to damaged handle area. Remnants of rib circumscribing shaft at handle area, but there are good-sized fractured areas and losses of large pieces. Handle area has long, somewhat straight bevel that leads to small, slightly rounded end. Below large bevel is a slightly rounded, straight area that leads off plane of central shaft. Whole handle area has slight bend. On one side of central shaft are a number of small pieces broken off. Surface slightly rough. Bottom end relatively smooth and rounded. Some small chips missing around bottom edge. Rough area on one side at bottom that corresponds with previously described roughness. May be characteristic of stone on this side. Evidence of grain and boundary layers running lengthwise through stone. Some small cracks on surface at both ends adjacent to these rough areas. Slightly darkened band on surface that may be residues from labels or tape. Surface color medium tan with some slightly reddish hues in some areas. In places with deep chips, core material appears to be same color.

According to an old exhibit label, this is a "Bear Effigy Pestle. The bear, highly worshipped, is represented in a symbolic carved form on the end of this pestle."

Material:

Stone

Dimensions:

W-2.2 L-12.7 D-2.1 inches Weight-57.5 oz

Provenance:

Found by George W. Barnes on his farm in Lyme, NH.

Credit Line:

New Hampshire Historical Society Collection

Subjects:

Pestles, Bears