Click to enlarge	Discoidal gamestones gained widespread usage during the Late Woodland and remained a part of life until the end of the Mississippian period. They were made in a variety of styles, and ranged from 1”-7” in diameter. Left is a cupped discoidal made from dark diorite. It measures 2 ½” in diameter and was found in Callaway County, Missouri. There are tally marks present on the edge of the cup, an unsual feature for a discoidal. At top right is a cupped discoidal found in Jefferson County, Missouri. It has the shape of a flying saucer, and is better known as a “Salt River” style. It measures 3” in diameter and is made from a speckled granite. Photography by Steven R. Cooper See this and other great relics in the CSASI 2021 July Journal
Click to enlarge	Left is a orange quartzite disc with no cup, the style being that of a biscuit. It was found in Clay County, Arkansas, and measures 2 7/8” in diameter. At the bottom right is a slightly cupped discoidal with a raised edge, referred to as a Cahokia style. It is made from a highly polished white limestone and measures 2 ½” in diameter. You can see evidence of pecking at the center in order to give the user a place to grip during gaming. It was found in St. Clair County, Illinois. Photography by Steven R. Cooper See this and other great relics in the CSASI 2021 July Journal
Click to enlarge	Quentin Carpenter of St. Marys,West Virginia, hunted relics as a child until he passed away in 2020 . He searched both sides of the Ohio River. Over the years, he made a couple of very rare finds as a surface collector. This rare Blocked End style Adena pipestone pipe was found in two pieces twenty feet apart. It measures 7 ½” x 3 ½” x 1 1/8”. He also discovered a shard of a second pipe(top left). This Mississippian period Ft. Ancient Vase style pipe was found by Jason Hanson at the Fox Field site in Mason County, Kentucky. It is made from cotton stone and measures 3 5/8” x 2”. It is highly engraved on all faces. It is thought engravings such as these represent shapes experienced by the smoker when utilizing hallucinogenic substances, including tobacco with high nicotine content such as Nicotiana rustica or Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium) both of which can produce strong hallucinations, the latter being deadly if taken in too large an amount. Collection of Eric Wagner, Marietta, Ohio -- Photography by Eric Wagner See this and other great relics in the CSASI 2021 July Journal