Featured Can anybody shed any light on this piece?

It stands 17.5 inches tall by 5 inches wide and was found along Stockton Creek in Albemarle County, Virginia, after the flood waters receded. I'm not sure what the wood is. What caught my eye was the neck groove in it, but after looking closer, I discovered a face staring back at me.

 

How big izzit, Rob?

 

D'oh!
Guilty, as hell. Sorry, folks.

 

Did you find it after the recent flooding, from hurricane Helene? Is it still wet/damp?

 

It may be a significant find. I would urge you to contact the Virginia State Archaeologist, Dr. Elizabeth Moore - 804 482-6084. If it is still wet, it is very important not to let it dry out, and to get it to appropriate conservators ASAP.

https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/programs/state-archaeology/

 

Wow,that’s one hell of an interesting discovery. And fairly big. I really hope we can learn more at it. Very cool!

 

There were two floods here associated with Helene-one when it passed through and one when it came back. This was found after the first flood. The first thing I did was clean it with a soft brush and clear dish soap. Next, I applied a fairly heavy coat of SP-11, which is a conservation treatment for waterlogged and excavated wood. It is soaking at the moment in that solution.

 

I am glad it was you who found it, how many would know how to properly care for something so special. A good deed does not go unnoticed.

 

It sounds like you have good experience with such objects. I do hope you will share it with the archeological community.

 

This case is the exception to the ol' saw:
No good deed goes unpunished!

Well Done, Rob!!

 

Wow! I have no clue but please post back when you learn something.

 

What a neat find! It doesn’t look something that some goofball would carve in their backyard within the last couple years. Unless they were modeling it on something specific maybe. What’s up with the cavity on the carved side? Does it look man made or natural!

 

Clearly a different tradition, but it reminds me of the Zuni "war gods" - Ahayu:da - which have an inserted, protruding "umbilical cord".



"Every winter, Zuni tribal members carve two such figures, bringing each to a ceremonial shrine atop a mountain on tribal land, where they are left to the elements. These figures were first discovered by anthropologists in the 19th century, and many have been stolen and placed in museums and private collections throughout the US and Europe. In 1978, the Zuni Tribe officially announced that they would like to see the statues returned, and over 100 figures have been repatriated since. “The Zuni recognize the war gods as living beings, and their removal from the shrine where they live represents an affront to Zuni cultural traditions."
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/202...indigenous-war-god-sculpture-to-a-zuni-pueblo

https://coloradosun.com/2019/01/04/plundered-skulls-chip-colwell-excerpt/

 

Very interesting!