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California Chumash Game Stones or Sling-Stones
The Chumash settled along the Coast of California between Malibu and Paso Robles about 13,000 years ago. Before the Mission Period, about 18,000 Chumash lived in 150 independent villages including the Channel Islands. This collection of 3 sling-stones or game-stones was part of the Mr. John H. Page Estate collection, and was a personal find of the late Mr. Page in 1950 in Ventura, California. These stones average about 1-3/4" in diameter. The largest is made of a fine grained sandstone and is definetely more recent. The other two smaller stones are much, of a coarser gray material, and show wear and degradation of the stone consistent with their age and use. After much study of all of Mr. Page's games stones under microscopic conditions, I personally believe these 'game balls/sling stones' were not made but found in the round naturally. Also, I personally feel they were not all kicked around in a game or used as sling stones. There are none of the usual old stone polishing marks on any of the more than 50 stones I have examined, and their age cannot be disputed. Stones that were kicked around should show chips and wear consistent with their usage, as would sling stones used to bring down water fowl. These are not made of a hard stone material like real Californian Nephrite Jade, or any other other hard stone associated with the area. Items should show chipping and signs of knocking together, or hitting other stones. The oldest ones show more extreme weathering instead of the chipping or cracking one would expect from impact pieces. I personally believe these were mostly used in Shamanic Ceremonies as referenced in the Fool's Crow Books, where he had spirit guides in his round stones, which he was told he would find on the tops of mountains. I have also found reference to this theory in an an old publication on the same types of stones found in Utah (see The Artifacts Of The Pecos-Kidder 1932 Fig. 37). Perhaps some were used as described (as we know they also made clay sling stones), but I do not believe all were intended for this use. The items are in-situ as found by Mr. Page over 50 years ago.
These stones have also been authenticated by Dr. Timothy Jones, PhD, Anthropologist, formerly with the University of Arizona. Dr. Jones has accepted invitations to the world's largest museum in Beijing, and has received privately guided tours of the Beijing Museum, which included some of the most treasured vault items hidden away from the general public. Dr. Jones is a Native American and has directed the excavations and analyses of more than 20 major sites and 40 archaeological surveys, both here and abroad. Dr. Jones now runs his own appraisal and authentication business, and is certified RPA-IAA. Dr. Jones can be reached at 520-744-2766. |
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