FOSSILS AND ARTIFACTS FROM
PALEO ENTERPRISES

RESEARCH

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UNUSUAL BONE ARTIFACT

An unusual bone artifact was discovered recently in the Lake Rousseau area of the lower Withlacoochee River, Levy Co. Florida.  This area of the river has long been flooded by the existence of a dam constructed across the channel, extending the water level far beyond the original parameters of the original banks.  The channel today lies on the average under twenty to thirty feet of water, depending on the variations of the slope of the channel and the amount of water in the pool.  The bottom normally consists of sand deposits over limestone, varying in depth from none to several feet.  The areas of exposed limerock changes from time to time as the river current removes and deposits sand from one area to another, constantly changing the contours of the bottom. 

Over the course of the years, a considerable number of artifacts have been recovered from the exposed river bottoms, ranging from Paleo to historic times, including stone tools and projectile points, celts, plummets, bola stones, pottery,  as well as bone pins, beads, antler tool handles  and other objects.  A large number of bone pins have been found in the area of shell middens bordering the river course.  Several wooden artifacts have also been reported from the muck deposits on the banks.

 The specimen in question for this article is a modified alligator jaw section with an unknown function.  It measures 183 mm by 27 mm and weighs 37 grams.  The section which was the outer surface of the jaw has been smoothed carefully on all parts of the surface.  The interior of the bone has been worked extensively, smoothed, thinned and reamed to a constant thickness of approximately 3 mm. 

The object is quite symmetrical and the ends have been carefully squared and bear evidence of polishing, as does parts of the inner surface.  On one end, slight notching has been executed intentionally on both sides of the bone.   

Of special interest are two holes drilled a distance of 76 mm from center to center.  These are not perfectly centered along the length of the bone, one hole being approximately 64 mm from the nearest end, and the other approximately  44 mm from the other end, as seen in the photo.  Interestingly, the holes are drilled from one side only, this being the interior, which would indicate its placement in the Adena culture time period..   

Tools made from alligator bone are relatively uncommon compared to bone from other animals, in part, perhaps, due to the fact that green alligator bone is harder than any other bone (although green antler is harder).  Most bone tools found in archaeological sites in the area are made from deer, but other animals include birds, raccoons, bison, mammoth, mastodon, horse, camel, turtle, and others.  A celt made from an alligator jaw has been reported from the Withlacoochee River,¹ and the author has seen an occasional dagger and fishhook of this material.

The purpose of the artifact is not clear, although in appearance it immediately brings to mind the similarity to stone gorgets or pendants.  Its overall size and shape are similar to flat, stone gorgets, and especially the two holes are reminiscent of these artifacts.  The holes in gorgets, however, are usually equidistant from the ends of the object, and are usually closer together.  Also, the slightly notched area on both sides of one end are not consistent with what we usually perceive as typical of a flat stone pendant.   Still, it has been suggested that since these are on the shorter side of the two center holes,  perhaps something (such as feathers, claws or some other object) was suspended from this end which would balance the total weight of the pendant, making up for the shorter (and thus lighter in weight) end.  This of course, is speculation.  On the other hand, the great care with which the object was manufactured suggests something beyond mere utilitarian purpose.

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