Native American Artifacts & Collectibles
Lot 239:
4 1/8" Grooved Bar Amulet found in Viriginia - Ex James Shields Collection
A cylindrical bar amulet shaped from a compact, fine-grained East Coast siltstone, measuring 4 1/8 inches in length. The piece is ground into a straight, uniform bar form with one intentionally flattened side – a characteristic feature of Mid-Atlantic amulet manufacture, where the flat face served as a stable bearing surface for leather or fiber bindings. Both ends exhibit small, deliberate circumferential grooves, cut to anchor cordage or multi-strand wraps that secured the amulet during wear. The stone shows the mottled grey-brown coloration and subtle greenish mineral oxidation typical of Atlantic-slope siltstone, with a smooth ancient hand polish and weathered surface consistent with long-term burial. The granular yet compact matrix visible in close-up confirms the material as siltstone rather than slate, matching the geological sources used by Late Archaic and Early Woodland groups across the Chesapeake watershed. The overall workmanship, end-grooving, flat bearing surface, and cylindrical shaping identify this as a fully finished bar amulet rather than a pendant or plummet, representing a distinct regional tradition of bound personal ornaments. Ex James Shields Collection.
Condition: Ancient Authentic
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