Shell Gorget found in West Tennessee

[peteavision]

In the Fall of 2018, a good friend of mine and I, were headed home from the Casinos in N. Mississippi on our Harleys. We were taking back roads along the Miss. River up to where we live in Memphis, Tenn. We are both interested in Native American history and artifacts. We are always on the lookout for Mound sites and places we can check out to further our knowledge and maybe get the opportunity to find any artifacts. Ok, I knew of a place that was know to have some Native American Historical value located in Shelby County, Tenn. between the Tenn. State line and south of Chucalissa not far from the Miss. River. I found a good spot to stop and hike a short distance to show my friend the River. After crossing a cotton field we came to a forested area filled with huge (old growth) Oak & Cottonwood trees. We were both watching the ground for hopefully some chips, flakes, or an Arrowhead. My friend spotted something white sticking out of the dirt near the based of a Giant Oak Tree. I thought she had picked up a piece of trash cause she hates litter and does that from time to time. She started brushing dirt chunks off the thing and yelled at me come check out what she had. When she handed it to me, it was still dirty. But I could tell it was a piece of shell. But not like a the Mussel Shells common where I live. But more like a piece of saltwater seashell. I used some water from a bottle that I was sipping on to rinse more of the dirt off it. and I could hardly believe what I was seeing. First two eyes, then a nose, then a little mouth!?! There was a Face carved into the shell! I soaked a rag I had in my back pocket and started wiping it off even better. I began noticing even more details. It looked like some zig-zag carvings across the top of the face & down what could best be described as the cheeks. I could also tell it was a very old piece of shell because it was kind of chalky. There were two like half holes at the top of it which, to me, looked like they might have been complete holes long ago for threading something through it to wear around one's neck. A small piece of the top must have chipped off . Folks, until that day I had never heard the term "Shell Gorget" nor, did I even know what one was. But I did know that it had to be some kind of Indian Artifact. I carefully wrapped it in some clean paper towels and we took it home. I went on-line on my computer at home and I think I simply typed in "Shell-Face" or something like that. The term Shell Gorget popped up first thing and there was an image of one very similar to what we found. And there you have it! Check out the pic's . It's not real big. It's "Pear" shaped and approx., 2 1/2" wide by 3"tall. Every time I hold it in the palm of my hand and look closely at it, It's Awesome! I can make out all kinds of detail!
Any and all thoughts will be greatly appreciated. I kinda feel like it needs to be in a Museum or something. I mean, I've found arrowheads, bits of pottery, and pretty common stuff like that. But Never anything like this. It's gotta be something special and rare.

[redrocks]

Yes that is rare congrats on the find wow...it reminds me of Bart Simpson

[gregszybala]

Interesting story and very nice find.
Welcome!

[sneakygroundbuzzard]

very cool find

the first thing came to mind for me when i saw the pic was
"i am groot" lol

[Olden]

I was thinking Wilson, from Cast Away

[Lindenmeier-Man]

I think it’s a pendant . It is museum quality . It’s most probably prehistoric .. I’ve seen death masks that look similar from S America, but not made of shell.. JJ

[Lindenmeier-Man]

Now I’m kind of worried for your friend and you! I was looking at the figure and I did not notice but 15 minutes had passed by..I got up and in the mirror my hair was standing strait up ! I’m thinking it’s haunted ! I’ve never been haunted by a artifact before but have heard of those that have .I do have some Shaman stones which I found years ago..
I’m thinking you need to send it to me( For safe keeping) and I will try to clean the ju ju from it !

[Broken Arrow]

Any chance it could be a death mask for a child? I know that's probably a little far fetched.. Is it possible that could have happened, have you ever heard of that?

[Lindenmeier-Man]

That thought did cross my mind !

[willjo]

It would be nice in a museum if they would display it for people to see it but they could sell it to a private collector or it gets lost there never to be seen again, good thought but more people would see it if you carried it to artifact shows with your collection. Not all museums would do this but you hear stories of people loaning them stuff and not getting it all back.

[Lindenmeier-Man]

You are abosolutely correct !

[CMD]

That is a very, very special find. Killer. Thanks for sharing it with us, and welcome to the forum. When you mention zig-zag lines running down the cheeks, I confess I can't quite make them out, but just the description reminded me of the Mississippian "weeping eye" motif. Don't know if it applies in this case, but, again, that is an awesome find!

[Broken Arrow]

Super cool find! Welcome to the forum!

[Tam]

Never have even heard of this . Thanks for sharing .
what a find !

[OnewiththewilD]

Incredible find. That’s what’s known as a Long nosed God maskette.

[willjo]

The book Sun Circles and Human Hands has some gorgets like that and the book is kind of wired most pages are not numbered, but on plates 157 and 158 has some almost identical to yours and on a necklace.

[sailorjoe]

Welcome to our forum and thanks for showing us your super dandy find. Great story. Makes me feel like I was along for the ride. Yes, I'd say it is likely a Mississippian shell gorget, especially since it was found so close to Chucalissa. I remember visiting that site back in the late 50's and early 60's when I was living in Memphis. I haven't been to Chucalissa in over 50 years but I continued to visit in Memphis to see my mother before she died and visited a couple of times to see my niece when she still lived there.

[Kyflintguy]

Killer Artifact! Never seen one quite like it, but that's what's cool, artifacts are alot like snowflakes, always something just a little different about everyone of em. You've gotten some good advice here also. Thanks for sharing this with us!

[SDhunter]

Very nice to see that.

[DitchLeeper]

Amazing find. Thanks for sharing