Stone Pipe Bowl With an Anthropomorphic Figure

This steatite pipe was found at an old trading post around Duparquet Lake and would be from the Late Woodland period, between 750 and 350 BP (before present).

The hose of this movable pipe bowl was probably built with wood or another perishable material. The small character, with his arm downwards, represents a normal human being. However, the bigger character, with his very long trunk, his open and bent arms, is in a position to receive shamanic powers. Also, the fact that he has horns on his head as well as three marks as fingers suggests he may be a spirit or an extraordinary being. These last patterns can be found in other sites around the Canadian Shield, on many cave paintings, but to see it engraved on a pipe is pretty rare. It was probably used for special occasions, such as sealing deals or alliances.

Source : «Objets. Abitibi-Témiscamingue», in Musée virtuel du Canada : Échos du passé. Archéologie préhistorique au Québec. Exhibition centre, Université de Montréal, 2006.
https://www.histoiresdecheznous.ca/sgc-cms/expositions-exhibitions/echo/html/f-echos-0801.html. Accessed in October 2019.