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MARINE SHELL MASK GORGETS
LATE PREHISTORIC
MONTANA & SOUTH DAKOTA
1450 TO 1675
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Cast of a shell mask from South Dakota.
MARINE SHELL MASK GORGET (cast)
LATE PREHISTORIC
SOUTH DAKOTA
 State Archaeological Research Center, South Dakota 

   The other shell mask from South Dakota was found in a cultivated field in Kingsbury County. Cultural material found near by included Plains Archaic, Plains Woodland and Oneota. It's believed that the Kingsbury shell mask is related to the Oneota cultural material. The mask's upper corner was slightly damaged from the agricultural implement that brought it to the surface. The location of the find was between two prominent lakes on a narrow land bridge less than 4 km long and between .3 to 1 km in width.

Three views of a large marine shell mask from South Dakota.
CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGE TRIPLE IMAGE
MARINE SHELL MASK GORGET
LATE PREHISTORIC
SOUTH DAKOTA
State Archaeological Research Center, South Dakota 

   This picture shows three views of a marine shell mask gorget that was found in Kingsbury County, South Dakota. It was found in a cultivated field that is situated on a land bridge located between two prominent lakes. This shell mask gorget is very well preserved and still retains its original surface polish. It measures 7 5/8 inches (19.3 cm) long and 5 7/8 inches (14.8 cm) wide.

    The Kingsbury County shell mask is in excellent condition. The surface of the shell still retains its original luster. It would be difficult to find a better example. Like the small Bear Butte mask this one also has a long nose that is raised above the surrounding surface and two perforated eye holes. But unlike the other mask this one also has a shallow hole for the mouth and an engraved line that connects the mouth to the bottom edge of the mask.

Engraving on the back of a shell mask from South Dakota.
ENGRAVING ON THE BACK OF A SHELL MASK (cast)
LATE PREHISTORIC
SOUTH DAKOTA
State Archaeological Research Center, South Dakota 

   The Kingsbury shell mask is engraved on the back with obvious geometric shapes and one large prominent human-like form.

    The Kingsbury County mask is remarkable for its engraving, especially on the back. The front of the mask, around the nose, has vertical line scratches that appear to be only random. But on the back there are very plain geometric patterns and one very prominent figure.

Close-up view of the engraving on the back of a shell mask.
MARINE SHELL MASK GORGET (cast)
LATE PREHISTORIC
SOUTH DAKOTA
State Archaeological Research Center, South Dakota 

   The main figure in the engraved area on the back is very impressive. The human-like image has two arms that are spread wide apart and in a raised position. It also appears to be standing on wing-like designs.

    The prominent figure that is engraved on the back of this mask is human-like in form. It has two arms that are spread wide apart and raised upward. There is also a wing-like image just below where its feet would be.

Close-up of mouth and engraved line.
AREA OF POSSIBLE RED OCHRE ON THIS
MARINE SHELL MASK GORGET
LATE PREHISTORIC
SOUTH DAKOTA
State Archaeological Research Center, South Dakota 

   This picture of the Kingsbury mask shows a close-up of the mouth and the engraved line below. There appears to be red ochre within these areas.

   The Kingsbury shell mask also appears to have some traces of red ochre still adhering to some areas. It's most obvious within the cavity of the mouth and the engraved line below. It's not surprising to see red ochre on a shell mask like this example. The two shell masks found in a cave in Montana were also painted with red ochre. Throughout history, for tens of thousands of years, people have used red ochre in connection with items involved in various types of ceremonies.

Close-up of serrated edge.
CLOSE-UP OF THE SERRATED EDGE
MARINE SHELL MASK GORGET
LATE PREHISTORIC
SOUTH DAKOTA
State Archaeological Research Center, South Dakota 

   This pictures shows a portion of the edge of the Kingsbury mask. Rather than design serrations these marks could be something else. According to Larry Kinsella, who is an experimental primitive technologist, they could be remnants from drilled holes that were made to cut the shell apart during the initial manufacturing process. Some of the marks located higher up along the edge of the mask are almost completely ground and polished away. They don't seem to be part of the design plan.

    The Kingsbury County mask has several serrations along the edge that may be a planned part of the mask's design.  Another theory by experimental primitive technologist, Larry Kinsella, suggests that these marks may have been caused by the manufacturing process. He has seen similar marks on the edges of some eastern shell gorgets. He believes that at least some of the shell that was used to make gorgets was cut out by first drilling small holes around the area to be removed then cutting between the drilled holes.

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"REFERENCES"

1912, Frederic Webb Hodge, "Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico," pp.539-541.
2001, Michael Fosha, "Faces of Shell: Two Marine Shell Mask Gorgets From South Dakota."
2002, Stanley Jaynes, "Marine Shell Mask Gorgets In Montana."

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