OCT. 1906. 
REMARKABLE CEREMONIAL OBJECT FROM MICHIGAN. 
161 
slightly concave from end to end and the wings turn slightly 
upwards. A transverse section of the shaft at its center would 
approximate a semi-circle. The weight of the object is eight 
ounces. 
The inner edges of the holes and a shallow groove connecting 
them appear to have been worn as by a thong passing from one 
to the other; but there are no indications of similar wear about 
the holes upon the opposite side of the object, as might be ex- 
pected ; therefore it is possible that the slope of the inner edges of 
the holes and the connecting groove were cut by the maker, or 
else that the thong that presumably passed through the holes was 
knotted on the opposite side and did not have any movement there. 
On the flat side of the object, beginning at what is the upper 
right hand corner of the figure and running down the outer edge 
for about an inch and a quarter, are three series of talley lines, 
one consisting of nine marks, with probably a tenth so worn away 
as to be uncertain, one of ten, and one of twelve lines, running at 
an angle of about 45 degrees to the curved border and each sub- 
tended by a single line. The members of each series are prac- 
tically parallel to each other, but the three series stand at angles 
to one another. There is a hint of another talley following the 
last of these, or perhaps a continuation of it, but so obliterated as 
to be quite uncertain. 
We are aware that Mr. Gerard Fowke in "Stone Art," 13th 
Ann. Rept. Bureau of Ethnology, in writing of gorgets and their 
uses says on page 117: "Some of the specimens have various 
notches and incised lines, the latter being sometimes in tolerably 
regular order ; but there is not the slightest indication that these 
marks had any meaning or were intended for any other purpose 
than to add to the ornamental appearance of the stone." 
The general appearance, style of arrangement, fineness and 
consequent inconspicuousness of these lines and their placement 
upon a surface which undoubtedly was the back of the gorgit and 
very likely was hidden from view leads me to incline to the opinion 
that they represent tallies and not ornamentation. 
We can imagine that this object was a symbol that was used 
in the native ceremonies of long ago, and was either carried 
fastened to a staff or, more probably, hung about the breast of a 
participant in an unknown aboriginal procession. 
