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Arikara Glassworking Techniques at Leavenworth and Sully Sites

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Douglas H. Ubelaker
Affiliation:
Department of AnthropologyUniversity of Kansas
William M. Bass
Affiliation:
Department of AnthropologyUniversity of Kansas

Abstract

Excavations of protohistoric Arikara sites in South Dakota have produced native manufactured blue-glass pendants in association with burials. On the basis of archaeological and laboratory evidence, it is conjectured that the Arikara produced these pendants by first grinding blue-glass seed beads to form a powder. They then moistened the powder to form a paste and shaped and fired the paste to the desired form on a copper plate which often was a rifle butt plate. In addition, it is shown that, through time, the Arikara gradually refined their techniques to produce better made pendants and ornaments of different shapes.

Type
Reports
Copyright
Copyright © Society for American Archaeology 1970

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