Denisovan Ancestry in East Eurasian and Native American Populations

05 January 2013

Oregon translucent pebble has been flaked to exploit a crystal inclusion and presents worked mammoth icons when held by manufactured pads for one's thumb and index finger

Find and interpretation by Ken Johnston from the Dennis Boggs collection of anomalous worked stones from the Columbia River valley, at Irrigon, Oregon. It is a "lithophane," a rock carving with translucent properties.

A possible mammoth (in profile facing left) icon may be seen, resulting from focused stone removal on this small translucent flake. A "base" or pad for the thumb has been created, along with a divot for the index finger. When held comfortably in this way, the mammoth figure is seen in optimal viewing perspective.

Stonework around the crystal inclusion, in order to feature it and open visual access to it. The crystals sparkle in the light. A second mammoth icon may be seen on this side of the artifact in profile, facing right.




Translucence in the daytime sun. The "bump" of the mammoth's head is a form recognized as a sign or indicator of an artist's attempt to portray this animal. Here, it was recognized as a component of a core rock, this flake including it was removed, and then it was incised and retouched to disambiguate the natural features enough to capture the necessary essence of the mammoth.

-kbj

1 comment:

  1. Hi. For every rock and stone that ive seen on this icredeble web site I have one almost just like one.Including your Mammoth.I will try to find it,and I will send you a pic.NEVADA.

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