Labels, true or just heaps of bull****

[Tim Simmons]

Well it was only hope. This is the only picture I have from "Indian & Eskimo Artifacts of North America, Charles Mile. I am talking about fine stubs of hair on the rawhide vissable with x10. Sadly I could not take pictures of the varrious types that were on display in the BM.

[David]

Well Tim, if we never took any chances....

[VANDOO]

THERE WERE MANY TRIBES PRESENT IN THE AMERICAS MANY OF WHICH MAY NEVER HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS SEPARATE FROM OTHER GROUPS.
THE LIVING STANDARDS RANGED FROM VERY SOPHISTICATED CULTURES TO THOSE WHO WERE POOR AND LIVED NO BETTER THAN THE EARLY ANCESTORS OF MODERN MAN.
THE QUALITY AND NUMBERS OF SURVIVING EXAMPLES OF ARTEFACTS FROM THE POOR TRIBES NO DOUBT DID NOT SURVIVE. COLLECTORS AND MUSEUMS ONLY COLLECTED THE ITEMS THEY ADMIRED BECAUSE OF THE WORKMANSHIP OR THEIR RESPECT FOR THAT TRIBE.
ANOTHER POSSIBILITY IS THAT THESE MAY HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE MUSEUM USING OLD TECKNIQUES AND MATERIALS AS WELL AS NEW ONES TO ILLUSTRATE HOW THEY WERE MADE AND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CLUBS FROM THAT ERA. THE STONE CLUB HEAD PIERCED THRU THE MIDDLE, LIKE A DONNUT IS SEEN SOME IN SOUTH AMERICA AND NEW GUINEA BUT I AM NOT AWARE OF EXAMPLES FROM NORTH AMERICA. ITS POSSIBLE THEY ARE AROUND I JUST DON'T REMEMBER SEEING THEM THE CLUB HEADS USUALLY ARE GROOVED NOT PIERCED. IF THE BEADS ON THE TASSELS AT THE END OF THAT CLUB ARE MODERN OR PLASTIC OR IF THE RESIN ON THE HEAD OF THE OTHER ONE ARE MODERN PLASTIC RESIN I WOULD SUSPECT THESE WERE MADE FOR STUDY BY SOMEONE IN THE FIELD. EITHER WAY THEY ARE INTERESTING AND NOT MADE TO SCAM OR FOOL ANYONE. IF THAT IS THE CASE IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO FIND,OUT WHICH TRIBES THEY WERE STUDYING.
PICTURES OF A FEW VARIATIONS OF NORTH AMERICAN CLUBS ONE APPEARS TO HAVE A PIERCED HEAD.

[David]

It looks to me from the photos that the rawhide that attaches the stone to the club in the heavily resined example criss-cross right over what i would image would be the striking surface of the club. Does this seem strange to anyone else from a practical perspective?

[Rick]

The thick clear resin looks like polyester or epoxy .

Hot pin test anyone ?

[Tim Simmons]

It has become clear to me that not all is clear as to the construction of this club.
Here are some more telling pictures. I it is best as a couple of reply to keep it simple. Starting with the stone. You will see it is one long stick with a stone held against the long stick. The two are bound together by a plant substance. After binding the club stone is further held secure bya melted layer of tree resin. The resin has gathered dirt and darkend with age. You can see how the colour is still much the same as the tree resin I have melted onto a small flint stone from the garden, seen next to a small lump of resin. You can see how fine the raw hide is, more like parchment.

[Tim Simmons]

I do not need to use a hot pin.