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BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



[Bull. 182 



Figure 43. — Bone tips for projectile shafts from the Clarksville site, 44Mcl4. 



to the completed tool. Similar methods were utilized by the occu- 

 pants of this component. 



Tines of deer antler were converted into projectile heads by boring 

 a hole in the proximal end to receive the shaft ; these are rare. One 

 complete specimen is 8 cm. long, having a central perforation which 

 penetrates to a distance of 2.5 cm. 



The carapaces of turtles were used primarily as totemic emblems. 

 In a number of instances they were introduced into graves in true 

 anatomical position so as not to serve as receptacles or containers. 

 The plastron was completely removed and in most cases the ventral 

 ends of the vertebrae were still intact. Wlienever a receptacle was 

 intended all the extruding ventral portions of the vertebrae were first 

 removed, tliis surface was well smoothed, and later the side portions of 

 the shell were smoothed by destroying the attachment surfaces of the 

 plastron. Occasionally portions of the plastron were perforated to 

 create a sort of pendant. In one instance the carapace had been sawed 

 almost completely in half along the median line, stopping short a dis- 

 tance of one-half inch from the margin on either side. Later, the 

 carapace had been treated with some sort of substance giving it a rich 

 brown tint somewhat like a shiny lacquer. This particular specimen, 

 along with an untreated carapace, was found in a grave. Both cara- 

 paces were crest uppermost and nothing was found under either of 

 them. 



Turtle plastron and carapace rattles are not common in the north- 

 east sector but appear in Huron and neutral country in post-European 

 sites. They are more common in the western sector than in eastern 

 areas. Turtle-shell cups, while found in many of the Fort Ancient 

 sites, were not reported from typical Iroquoian sites. 



Bone beads were made from the hollow leg bones of turkeys and 

 other birds as well as from small mammals. Some are short while 

 others are long enough to be classed as tubes. Both types are exceed- 

 ingly rare in this component as well as in the rest of the reservoir area. 



