James J. Solomon Kirkwood, Missouri
Central States Archaeological Journal
Hopewell effigy monitor pipe carved to represent a Duck Hawk in a very realistic manner. This pipe was found about fifty years ago, on top of a freshly plowed mound, near Davenport Iowa. Material is Gray Ohio pipestone.Length 3 3/16 inches, width 1 ½ inches, height 2 inches. From James J. Solomon collection
There is one basic quality possesed by amateur archaeologists and Indian relic collectors that spend their spare time “tromping” over hills and dales looking for finds. That unique quality is that all are pure optimists—they just know that the next row of corn will yield an eight inch dovetail, fine plumbob or bannerstone. Most Of us, however, “tromp” all day without a single find and still have enough optlmism to try again the next weekend.
we can truly consider ourselves lucky when we do find a fine specimen, however, the acquisition of the finest specImen in my collection was even more lucky—it was given me.
The acquisition Of this relic is definitely a moment I shall never forget a thrill to end all thrills! At my place of employment, I constantly talk to friends in my spare time, about archaeology—usually boring them to death. One day, a good friend and fellow employee came to me and mentioned that he had an “Indian pipe” he would like to give me. I, of course, saw in my minds eye a pottery or a catlinite Plains Indian pipe. I wasn’t much excited but said I would definitely be interested in acquiring it. He told me it was in the shape of a bird and of material he was unable to identlfy. He said he had found it near Davenport, Iowa on top of a freshly plowed mound About fifty years before.
The following Saturday, I stopped by his home to acquire this relic, After a lengthy search through his dresser drawer, he pulled out and placed in my hand a beautifully executed Hopewell effigy Monitor pipe. This pipe is considered by many to be one of the finest carved Monitor type effigy pipes in any private collection in the country.
It is exquisitely carved by a master sculptor from green Ohio pipestone In the very realistic shape of Duckhawk. It is perfect in all respects, highly polished and without a blemish or imperfection and must actually be seen to be appreciated. Many collectors have attempted to compare pipes in their collection With this instant specimen but when the two pipes are viewed simutaneously, any such comparison becomes unrealistic. It is pictured on page 51 of the bulletin Prehistoric Art —published in 1953 by the Greater St. Louis Archaeologleal Society and on the opposite page of this publication,
The base of the pipe measures 3 3/16 inches in length by inches in width and it is 2 inches in height. The eyes of the hawk are small river pearls— which have partially disintegrated, presumably by corrosive agents in the soil, Please note that the talons Of the hawk are carefully incised into the base Of the pipe making a very realistic effigy indeed. Note: Figure 32.
A plaster cast of this pipe was recently made by the Illinois State Museum at Springfield, Illinois, When Dr 
Throne Duele, the Museum Director showed the Pipe to one of the museum’s Ornithologists he immediately recognized It as belonging to definite genius and species. This exemplifies how truly realistic this specimen is.
The moral to this true story: the next time yourre out “tromping” and come home tired and empty-handed, don’t feel too bad. The next day your neighbor or a friend may give you a fine banner-stone, plumbob or effigy Monitor pipe that had been found many years before—when the finds were more numerous and spectacular.