110 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [BuLp. 185 
known that traders, among them Denig himself, also carried abalone 
shells, and in the 1860’s the price of an unpolished shell is reported 
to have been a good robe (Matthews, 1877, p. 28). The material seems 
to have been popular in this area, and a number of pendants of 
abalone shell were recovered during the course of excavations at Like- 
a-Fishhook Village (82ML2). Maximilian mentions the use of sea- 
shells as ear pendants by the Mandan and says they were obtained from 
other tribes, but he does not say what kind of shells were used (Maxi- 
milian, 1906, vol. 23, p. 258). Catlin’s paintings made at Fort Clark 
show ornaments, which appear to be fashioned from abalone shell, 
which are worn suspended both from the neck and from the ears. 
TRADE OBJECTS 
All objects of metal, glass, and non-native ceramics are included in 
this group even though some may owe their finished form to native 
workmanship. 
Knives—From Feature 1, where it was found thrust down beside 
a post butt, came an exceedingly well-preserved bone-handled dagger 
(pl. 18, f). This has an overall length of 19.0 cm. with a millimeter 
or two of length lost by the point having been slightly blunted. The 
blade tapers from tip to guard and measures 9.0 cm. in length, with a 
maximum width of 1.4 cm. and a thickness of 6 mm. at the base. For 
a distance of 1.5 cm. below the guard the blade is elliptical in cross 
section with the edges rounding and unsharpened. Below this point 
the blade is lozenge-shaped in cross section. The guard is a flat iron 
or steel plate 4 mm. thick, 3.6 cm. in length, with a maximum width 
of 12cm. It is widest at the center and tapers toward the ends, each 
of which terminates in a small knob. The tang appears to be round, 
an extension of the blade, and to extend completely through the hilt, 
with the end smoothly riveted at the base. The bone handle tapers 
from butt to guard, the widest part being elliptical in cross section 
and measuring 2.0 cm. in width and 1.2 cm. in thickness. Near the 
guard the cross section becomes round, with a diameter of 1.2 cm., 
after which it thickens slightly where it meets the guard. At this 
point it is encircled with a narrow band of silver or German silver, 
the copper alloy of which has produced a faint green stain on the 
bone of the handle. The band, which is but 6 mm. in width and 
very thin, is decorated with two impressed parallel horizontal lines. 
The upper end of the hilt is rounding and has been carved in such 
fashion as to leave a portion of the bone slightly raised. The 
raised portion was fluted, forming a bas-relief of a pair of conven- 
tionalized shells which clasp the base of the grip.’ 
The blade of this dagger has been ornamented over the upper part. 
The rusting and consequent pitting of the metal incident to its 90-year 
2G, Hubert Smith has pointed out to me that the design on the hilt is reminiscent of 
the conventionalized drapery favored on 18th and 19th century funeral monuments. 
