27. The old man

Agatized Sea Shell

The upper part is the agatized sea shell

Finaly a new update after almost one year of silence.
Here we have a very nice piece and very strange!
This is an agatized sea shell (sort of - upper part) with a strange lower part:
There is one hole on the center that represents an eye,
and two noses on each side.
You can turn the piece left or right and a new profil appears.
Very interesting art !

The lower part is the effigy of an old man (click to magnify)

Size: ~11.5cm
Material: Fossil

Restored: A little (Lower part polished).

Provenance: Mojave Desert (California part), USA

Estimated period: Upper Paleolithic (carving)

19. Ancient effigies on petrified clam

A small petrified clam

This small petrified clam was found in the Mojave desert, on the same paleo site than the other pieces. The first interesting thing about this small petrified clam is the fact that it contains a petrified pearl in it:

A petrified pearl inside.

If this is not enough, the second interesting thing is the effigies that appear on it:

The effigies. Click on picture to magnify.

Size: ~2.5 cm

Material: Mineralized clam (agatized)

Restored: No (found "As Is")

Provenance: Mojave Desert (California part), USA

Estimated period: Upper Paleolithic (carving)

14. The petrified snake

This is a small petrified snake

Paleolithic men hated snakes, probably for the simple reason that many of them were bitten by them, and surely some even died. As strange as this may sound, they would actually do strange things to the snakes, like tie them into knots and shape them into small totems, like this one...

Close up on the head, click on picture to magnify.

The man and the pet, already visible on this piece and this piece seem to appear again on this one:

The man and the pet, click on picture to magnify.

Size: ~3.5 cm

Material: Mineralized organism (snake)

Restored: No

Provenance: Mojave Desert (California part), USA

Estimated period: Upper Paleolithic

13. The 100-face totem

The 100-face totem

Size: ~9 cm

Material: Mineralized organism (maybe a part of a Coyote jaw bone)

Restored: Yes (was completely covered in mineral buildup which has to be removed, this piece was then sprayed with a protectant)

Provenance: Mojave Desert (California part), USA

Estimated period: Upper Paleolithic (certainly older)

Here is some of the faces that appear on this incredible artifact:

Click on picture to magnify (1600x1200)

Some close-up (click to magnify)

As you can see, this piece is a true work of art, made by a skilled artist. There many other faces on this artifact, it's why I called it The 100-face totem. See more effigies on the picture below:

Click on picture to magnify

1. Profil of a paleo man

Click on picture to magnify.

Size: ~5cm
Material: Unknown petrified organism attached to an Agate fragment.
Restored: Yes
Provenance: Mojave Desert (California part), USA
Estimated period: Upper Paleolithic (maybe older)