Plummets, Charmstones, and Mystery

[CMD]

The figure 8 plummet. Westport, Ma. The maker has to have known this inclusion would end up atop the knob....









An old thread dealing with the subject of various fishing gear, and which delved into the issue of fanciful examples....

https://forums.arrowheads.com/forum/information-center-gc33/lithic-artifacts-technology-materials-gc71/fishing-net-weights-anchors-sinkers-plummets-etc-gc127/107050-fishing-weights-plummets

[Cmcramer]

Found in Onondaga County, NY.

[Cecilia]

Wow....

[redrocks]

Nice!!

[Missouri Breaks]

Yep

[redrocks]

Plumalicious Tom!

[Missouri Breaks]

Those are great and a cool thread.
Three in the foreground of that group with my one really symmetrical one in a couple solo shots. Sonoma CA, same site. I’ve just been reading about these.

[Cecilia]

Gotta warn ya: I do lotsa back-stitchin!

[redrocks]

I do believe they were part of fishing tackle for NA... Except for the high grade polished ones

[LongStride]

Way too beautiful for duty as actual fishing plummet, net weight. Groove not sufficient for cord secure as pendant, and would hang crooked and whack teeth when bending, moving about. Some found grave goods, but none in snare/hunt locales. Mostly, recovered among domestic stuff.

I buy into definitely a weight, and, altho elegant and ornamental, definitely had job. Before had fixed-frame looms, cloth woven with loose strands held together by weight, and other strands gathered and pushed between them with shuttle. If I sat/stood my residence hours creating couture, I’d sure have “silver threads and golden needles”, so to speak. When fixed-frames came along, beautiful plummets kinda lost popularity. (I got lotsa citations basis theory, and will provide if want)

Liking your theory , think I followed your silver and gold thread before

[Cecilia]

Poo, Naysayer! Sure theory could be somewhat right, somewhere for some People!
Huh....you California People wore fig leaves? .......Grape Leaves!😘

[LongStride]

Those are great, Art.

I'm still dreaming of finding a charmstone.


Central California charmstones are spiritual objects , considered to have considerable power. Used as talismans, they were often suspended in hunting and fishing spots to ensure success. Also said to have the ability to fly and to be able communicate to a shaman the location of prey or enemies through dreams. The occur throughout the archeological from Windmiller through Augustine patterns of California cultural history.

[ATTACH]n554748[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]n554749[/ATTACH]

Yes, agree about being sacred objects used by the shamans, have heard how these are used from a shaman who lived with the Lakia from Peru , it's a little over my head but very interesting

[tomf]

These charmstones are widely distributed in areas where weaving was not practiced.

[tomf]

Those are great too. Amazing how the shapes are consistent across the continent.

[tomf]

It's not a guessing game with the California ones. Evidence supports ethnographic reports. It seems they had no utilitarian function that wasn't magical in nature. Not weights or plum lines or marital aids.
Not saying that at some point in distant past they didn't have a physical function that may have morphed into the metaphysical, but indian lore, and archeology seem to line up in agreement on this one.