Native American Relics

[JonnyReb]

 After reading through the excellent "Odd things in the woods" thread, I started thinking of all the things i've been blessed to find in the woods and in nature. After just compiling some memories of different native American finds, I thought i'd start this thread with some of those finds and see what you you guys have found pertaining to the indians.*. As a kid in tiny Pineville N.C., my friends and I were shocked to follow some local trails to a gigantic group of rocks standing 2 stories high and alone deep in the hardwood forest only a few miles from our homes. Around the base of this perhaps 4000 sqft rock, were carved 2x4ft ovens, maybe a dozen of them complete with carved and chiseled baking shelves. This rock is now along the edge of Elm ln. in charlotte N.C.,(google elm ln big rock) not well known to anyone anymore but will stand forever. As I got older and traveled further in my outdoor trips, I was amazed to find several large rock V shaped fish traps in both the yadkin and catawba rivers in N.C. These had been in place for hundreds of years i'm sure, and if I had the appropriate sized bark woven baskets, i'll bet I could still catch a fish or two, but instead of the shad runs the natives targeted, i'd just catch bass and brim. Times have changed. *In a small swamp near waltersboro S.C., there is the remains of a cypress? dugout canoe sprouting from a dirt mound at the waters edge. How old it is and why half of it is buried I have no idea. Also I note that no longer is there water deep enough to float such a creation. * slightly farther south on Edisto island, you can find MANY large shell piles left from the early inhabitance, and intermingled with the shells on the ground are hundreds or thousands of mud brown pottery chips, each and every piece engraved with lines and swirls from what I assume was a favorite sharp stick or shell knife. I've brought home a piece or two and along with the many arrowheads found, its all deep stuff to ponder. Anyone else find interesting traces of the original woodfolk?

[BoomLover]

Your mention of the town Pineville struck a cord...when my brother and I were little kids, we used to roam around the river banks in the town of Prineville, Oregon. This is in central Eastern Oregon, and a Native American habitat for centuries. One day, while playing on the banks, we got into a seep sandy area, and my brother started sliding down towards the river. To stop himself, he dug his hands deep into the sandy bank. after he stopped, he pulled his hand out and he was holding a very large black obsidian spear point, in perfect shape! It was about 7 to 8 inches long, a real beauty. Over the year, it became lost, but he did have it for many years.....BoomLover

[JonnyReb]

 Thats an awesome find Boom, the work that went into that particular piece made it prized to its owner and i'll bet losing it hurt. Makes you wonder just what scene was played out thousands of years before doesn't it?  Heres a pic of the ones i've stumbled across, most all when I was a kid. The quartz pieces were all found in a single farmers field. The degree in craftsmanship sure showed the difference between a master and an apprentice. That quartz was local to the area. The tiny white birdpoint appears to be bone and was found in a lowcountry S.C field. The granite looking piece was found near the quartz ones but is a much different style and design. The flint head is different also but unique in that the flint came from another area, both Morrow mountain N.C and Arkansas were known producers of identifiable flint which was traded all over the U.S.  We'd be amazed in some cases at the life of an arrowhead. Mined from a source, traded away and sometimes traveling far to be transformed into art by a craftsma

[gr8ful]

When. Living in tennessee I found an Overhang that was litteraly filled with stone flakes and broken arrow points I collected a few but never told anyone the location of my secret find.  Years later  I married and my brother in law was a flint knapper and I told him about my find and he said that it fifnt suprise him much because you wouldn't want a bunch of sharp flint chips in your camp And for every good point you break two or three in the making so knappers tended to stay outside of the camp and he thought I may have found a workshop of sorts.  Reguardless I feel like it may be a special place and will remain my secret.

[GeneRector]

   Howdy! I hunted up in Arkansas near Alpena. There are trees where one of the branches have been bent to form an arrow, sort of like go this way to people passing by. The land owner told me that Indians made these to let other Indians know which way to go for water, etc.  Kind of like road signs. Always, Gene
 
 

[JonnyReb]

 Thats good stuff Gr8ful & Gene. Bet there are many thousand places where you can find signs of them undiscovered or just left alone. Bet those of us who roam the woods have been close to untold gravesites or undisturbed relics. There were more indians around and they were more well organized and well traveled than i'd have ever thought before I started reading more indepth about them. J