Exceptional Artifact & Collectible Auction
Lot 202:
Late Prehistoric Bone Composite Fishhook, Great Basin / Plateau Region (AD 1200–1800)
This carved bone composite fishhook component features a straight shank and a projecting side barb, a classic form used in late prehistoric fishing technology throughout the Great Basin and Plateau regions. Made from a single piece of bone, the hook displays the angled side barb designed to secure fish when line tension is applied. Hooks of this type were traditionally lashed with sinew or plant fiber to a separate hook element, forming an effective composite fishing tool used for trout, suckers, and other regional species.
The workmanship and overall form align with fishing implements used by ancestral Northern Paiute, Western Shoshone, and related Plateau groups. The surface shows a well developed patina with natural mineralization, softening of tool marks, and age consistent wear along the edges. These traits are characteristic of late prehistoric to early historic manufacture, dating approximately AD 1200 to 1800.
The drilled eye and the projecting barb both show natural smoothing and oxidation, supporting long term use and burial. The piece remains well preserved, retaining its original shape and functional design without modern alteration or enhancement.
The hook measures about 1 inch in length. It is a fine example of Indigenous fishing technology from the interior West, illustrating the practical and efficient bone tool traditions of the region.
Provenance: Late Chuck Asher Collection.
Condition: Authentic
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