THE ARCHEOLOGICAL HISTORY OF NEW YORK I5I 



part of their culture. Further description of these is given 

 elsewhere in this bulletin. 



It is interesting to note the methods by which the stem holes of 

 Iroquois pipes were produced. Probably the majority have had the 

 hole punched through the stem while the clay was yet plastic but 

 there are many specimens that show that the clay was rolled or 

 modeled over a small reed, straw or a wisp of twisted grass. 

 \\ hen the clay was burned the reed or grass burned out and left the 

 stem hole. Hundreds of broken and split specimens from western 

 and central New York reveal this ingenious method of making the 

 hole. Very likely this usage added to the strength of the modeled 

 form and prevented the danger of cracking the stem by punching, 

 and insured an unobstructed passage to the bowl. 



