History through material culture.
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Weeden Island Effigy Vessel- McKeithen Site, FL
Two thirds of Weeden Island effigy vessels are decorated with bird effigies, mostly owls and ducks.
Bone Flutes- Fort Ancient Settlement, OH
Archaeologists examine prehistoric bone flutes to understand the connection between hole placement and sound.
Italian Chalkware Cat- Winterthur, DE
This Italian figurinai, gatto lucchesi, was one of the most popular chalkware collectables in the 19th and 20th century.
19th Century Tin Cup- Latimer Mine, PA
The cup's bullet hole is a result of the Latimer Mine Massacre- one of the worst attacks against union mine workers.
German Tobacco Pipe- New Orleans, LA
Archaeologists discover this pipe fragment near a New Orleans residence occupied by German immigrants.
Woodville Rosenwald School Desk- Gloucester County, VA
Despite the initial terms for funding a Rosenwald School, Gloucester’s African American community chose to raise the remaining the budget themselves and rather than accept contributions from the White school board.
18th Century Dice- St. Augustine, FL
This die was made from an animal's ankle bone, similar to the Spanish game known as Taba.
Traditional Chinese Masks- British Columbia, Canada
Chinese Secret Societies were created to offer aid, community, and the preservation of tradition in enclaves like Victoria’s Chinatown.
Louis Riel’s Handcuffs- Saskatchewan, Canada
These handcuffs were used to restrain Louis Riel, Métis resistance fighter, prior to his execution in 1885.
Mahjong Tiles - Halifax, NC
Mahjong originated as a gambling game in mid-to-late 1800s China and spread to a limited number of foreigners via trade routes.
Slate Pencil- Boston, MA
This slate pencil likely belonged to a Boston schoolchild in the 1800s. They were commonly used in schoolhouses for writing and math exercises before paper became widely available.
Western Riding Spur- Miner's Delight, WY
Miner’s Delight was a small, isolated mining town accessible by horseback.
Stickball- New York, NY (3D)
This Spalding ball is a remnant of stickball, a game attributed to the Puerto Rican, African American, and Dominican communities in East Harlem.
Dorset Bear Figurine- Nunavut, Canada
The Dorset Culture's interest in polar bears may have been a direct response to changes during the Medieval Warm Period.
Pearlshell Fishhook- Kau, HI
Archaeologists debate if fishhook shapes were influenced by their material, function, or stylistic preferences.
Chinese Wen- Terrace, UT
This 300 year old coin reflects the unique traditions of Chinese rail workers during the late 19th century.
Mississippian Smoking Pipe- Peachtree Mound , NC (3D)
This tobacco pipe reflects a unique decorative tradition throughout the Southeastern US.
Split-Twig Figurine- Grand Canyon, AZ
Archaeologists re-analyzed Split-Twig Figurines to determine if these are artifacts were used for religion or play.
Drum Stones- Seip Earthworks, OH
With the help of Shawnee leaders, Archaeologists Lepper and Barnes reinterpreted these stones as weights attached to water drums.
Chunkey Stone- Lamar Mounds, GA
The game of chunkey is a multi-player ball game that began as early as 600AD. Although the game is found throughout the south and east, chunkey stones vary in size and shape.