Prior to pottery, Native Americans used stone and wood for whatever they needed, and while these do not fit the usual pretty decorative pipes we are used to, this is the only conclusion I have been able to come up with after handling them over and over. The only other choice could be to keep embers alive while traveling or containing them inside a shelter.
PIPES
This is 5 3/4"W,5 1/2"H,5"D, and weighs 3.137. I have been told it was a community pipe and when you place your mouth up to concave area in photo to the right, it fits perfect.
The photo far right shows another opening below the main one. I haven't figured out the purpose yet. 5 1/2" w, 4 1/2" h, 5 1/4"d. 4.03 lbs
You can see where there is a concave area for you mouth and while it doesn't look like your conventional pipe, getting the job done is the most important.
This is very small and I have another a little smaller than this in the next photos.
When I found the first item with an unusual placed hole, it made me wonder until I kept finding more, and I started trying to figure out their uses. I will group them together as to what I think they are, but all this is pure speculation.
I call these juicers, as it looks like they are designed for the liquids to run out while the bulk is held.
The first photo shows how part of the stone has been smoothed and if you look closely in photo three the area around the hole has been enlarged and the bottom has been smoothed, the difference between the original stone on the left and on the right.
Notice how flat the rim is and the flake marks. The indentation on the left side is where your left thumb fits nicely and would help tilt the item up so liquid could run out the hole.
Similar design as the item above, and notice the rounded front of the cavity, ideal for pouring out the bulk left.
Similar to the first item in design and the area around the cavity seems to have been flattened. There is a small smooth hole to the right of the cavity and you can see the area around the opening has been expanded.
I think the next items were possibly stone tool and die, where leather or wood could be pushed or pulled through to reduce the overall size, or used as weights for fishing nets/traps.
These are " Paint Dishes", which were used to mix paint or medicinal salves. I love the smoothness and patina from human handling, and I am showing the bottom of each item so you can see the stark difference.
This was in part of a point collection I purchased and I have been amazed since I first saw it. The middle photo shows how the right side near the crack has been smoothed and provides a better grip. Whether it's natural, which I doubt, or man made, I really like it.
I think these might have been used to apply top pressure on a bow drill because of the way your fingers grip the items.
The fun part is trying to figure out the use of an item, and maybe this was for grinding?
I love the patina and smoothness this has, and my guess it might have been a Shaman's stone or maybe for some type of game?
The day I found this I remember picking it up and wondering if it was some type of a toy for a child. You can see in the far right photo the original surface and how a line has been placed and the area above the line smoothed.
SPOKE SHAVES- This is the equivalent to a draw knife wheel wrights use to carve down spokes or anything wooden. I have read these were also used in cleaning meat and tendons off of kills. The more curved items might have been hand scythes for harvesting grains and grasses.
The round stones could have had numerous uses depending on the season and need. Weights for nets, grinding stones, the smaller ones for throwing in defense or hunting, game balls, or heating stones for cooking.
I wanted to show how some had been more defined.
I think these are effigies of some sort, and the larger item I call my tadpole. If you look closely there is a small smooth are which I believe is for a strap and the piece was worn as an ornament.
This is another item given to me from Bill Waters and he told me it is Caddo from Texas.