Carved Steatite and Sandstone Tubes: Pipes for Smoking or Shaman’S Paraphernalia

Abstract

Six broken and refitted carved stone pipes or tubes were recovered at the Coal Draw site (48H0469) in the southern Bighorn Basin in north-central Wyoming. In addition there were an unbroken tube and pieces offive others. Several different types of carvable stone are represented, many of which are not found locally. These items may or may not be associated with a large Dinwoody style petroglyph panel nearby. They may also have been burial offerings, since a human skull fragment and a probable human molar were found in the immediate area. Ritual breakage of most of the items is suggested. It is also suggested that this occurred while the items were in containers such as pipe bags, and that they were not removed afterward.