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TURTLE EFFIGY PENDANT
An interesting artifact was recently discovered in Taylor Co. FL. This is a bone artifact carved to resemble a turtle with head, tail and four feet. The body of the turtle is nearly square, measuring 30 by 31 centimeters, but including the feet it is 40 centimeters. Width including feet is 35 centimeters in the rear and 33 in the front. From tip of head to tip of tail is also 40 centimeters. Thickness is a nearly constant 5 centimeters. The head has a tiny hole drilled completely through, likely for suspension. On the back of the turtle are nine holes drilled approximately halfway through and they average about 4 centimeters in diameter. Two grooves are cut into each foot, which results in 3 toes.
. The partially drilled holes in the dorsal surface are thought to be for the purpose of inserting an inlay of some material, likely mussel shell, or perhaps a marine shell or even freshwater pearls. An artifact with similar indentations made from an extinct Great White shark tooth is known from Putnam Co. FL. This artifact measures 80 mm and has two holes drilled completely through for suspension, and five larger holes partially drilled in the crown, which likely held inlays of some type.
Although the material used is definitely bone, it is not certain from what animal it is made. The artifact was carefully examined by Mr. Claude Van Order of Lakeland, FL and he concluded that the most likely material was the thick skull of a very large alligator snapping turtle, or second most likely, an alligator. The bone is very dense, and exhibits no pores or cancellous areas on any surface, which rules out most mammal bone.
The artifact was obviously fashioned to imitate the form of a turtle and is likely of purely ornamental purpose. It is very carefully and skillfully made, and is a true work of North American aboriginal art. I have been unable to find a reference to a similar bone turtle ornament anywhere.
