question for painshill about spools.

[OnewiththewilD]

hey rodger i just read you post under info on spools.i didnt read anywhere where it said they where used as personal jewelery, just spiritual or clan jewelry.but i think they where used as ear "plugs" as we call em".i wear them myself.do you think thats what they could have been used for?

[OnewiththewilD]

the post:

http://forums.arrowheads.com/forum/information-center-gc33/lithic-artifacts-technology-materials-gc71/gamestones-charmstones-effigy-items-gc79/110072-spools-late-prehistoric-fort-ancient

[painshill]

Hi Jay
I'm copying articles across from another section of the forum (the "Artifact Resources" section under the orange tab at the top of the forum). We have permissions to use those articles which mostly come from back issues of the CSASI quarterly journal. So, they're not my opinions.
Having said that, I would make two points. Ear spools are a well known item, but the article is about a specific kind of "spool" with essentially the same shape that relates exclusively to the Fort Ancient People of southern Ohio, northern Kentucky, southeastern Indiana and western West Virginia. Despite having the same general shape as ear spools the article makes a case that these particular items must have served a different purpose.
They are most usually made from fine grained or gritty sandstone and heavily carved with decorative work and ridges in the areas that would have sat inside the ear-lobe. The material, the engraving and the ridging suggest these would have been rather uncomfortable in the ear and likely would have abraded the skin. Also, what's the point of putting decorative work onto an adornment in areas where it couldn't be seen?
As the article says, the usage of these items is still unknown, but the author runs through the various possibilities with various degrees of scepticism.

[OnewiththewilD]

thanks rodger! i agree about how that material probably wouldnt feel to good after a little while.they are very interesting items though!if you or anyone else have any pics of actual native ear spools i'd like to see em".

[Hoss]

http://www.arrowheads.com/index.php/woodland/438-various-woodland-artifacts

There is one at the top of that page Jay.

[OnewiththewilD]

thanks Hoss! thats a beauty! imagine finding one of them!now a' days people call them "flesh tunnels".kinda gross name actually.i'd call em hollow spools.

[Hoss]

My son could probably wear that one in the article.

[OnewiththewilD]

thats a big gauge! mine are 3/4 inch.