A Curious Scratched Design on a Connecticut Paintstone

Abstract

Nonceramic designs are rarely described from southern New England. One is here illustrated and its elements examined. Several controlled speculations as to its meaning are advanced. These include attenuated Southern Cult motifs, depicted natural-history phenomena, and the possibility of its being a map or a record of some cultural event. No conclusions are drawn. Re-examination of similar artifacts in local collections may reveal additional scratched designs.

Aboriginal Trephination: Case from Southern New England?

“…To substantially reduce this soturce of contamination, only distilled and freshly prepared reagents were used in the analyses. 10. After the NH,OH solution had been reduced to about half the original volume, a white precipitate formed (believed to be aluminum hydroxide).…”

“…Both generalized regional Archaic and Woodland levels have been postulated here (1), with only tenuous suggestion of exotic elements. These include an artifact of plasma (a stone material identified as originating in Georgia or Alabama) and an enigmatic incised paintstone (10), which may record Southern cult motifs.…”