Posted on 03/16/2006 9:46:13 AM PST by SunkenCiv
This is the only such artifact found in an excavation by professional archaeologists, but a half dozen or more similar sized sandstone tablets have been discovered near Cahokia. Several were known to have near identical cross-hatching on one side, but were plain on the other. A couple of these have been found in the northern portions of Cahokia and around Horseshoe Lake.
(Excerpt) Read more at cahokiamounds.com ...
oops. Wrong thread.
Around the turn of the 20th centruy, half of a sandstone tablet was found in the field directly east of Monks Mound. Known as the Peet Tablet, both sides of this example were divided into even quadrants by what some interpret as 'painted poles'.
On the 'front' of the tablet are two heads, facing outward. Both heads have beaded fore-locks, and possibly forms of a 'turban' or 'crown' hair style. It is possible these images could represent individuals of rather high status.
The blocky nature of the lips and chin, and the strange 'notched' appearance of the neck probably indicates these faces are also wearing masks, like the figure on the Birdman Tablet. If one concludes these individuals are NOT wearing masks, it is possible the notching indicates that these are decapitated heads.
The two quadrants on the 'reverse' of the Peet Tablet are decorated by the heads of pileated woodpeckers. It is interesting to note that in historic times these birds have been considered 'pests' by power companies because of their strong attraction to telephone poles.
The actual purpose of such tablets remains a mystery to this day.
(Peter Bostrom)
Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on or off the
"Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list or GGG weekly digest
-- Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)
Any relevance between this Birdman legend and the one from Easter Island? The artwork looks a little similar.
related:
A Stone Pyramid At Cahokia, Illinois
St. Louis Dispatch | 3-9-98
Posted on 02/22/2002 7:38:42 PM EST by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/633509/posts
That's the first thing that came to my mind as well, but the only connection is a more general milieu -- shows a cultural affinity with the Americas survived on Easter Island after the Polynesians arrived.
hmmm - ancient playing cards?
Could the depictions be of a shaman masked as a hawk?
MidWest, Red State, Hoo Rahhhhhh!
No one knows.
I noticed that the circa 1900 discovery of the Peete tablet is regarded as legit. :')
lol, I love that!
For later.
Probably, and it must have been a one-suit deck.
Good for another bump.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.