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SHARK TOOTH WEAPONS
CAHOKIA MOUNDS STATE HISTORIC SITE &

OTHER LOCAL MISSISSIPPIAN SITES
MISSISSIPPIAN CULTURE
ILLINOIS
A.D. 850 TO A.D. 1500
PAGE 1 OF 2 PAGES
COPYRIGHT JULY 31, 2004 PETER A. BOSTROM
Sharks tooth effigy bone arrow point and discoidal.
SHARK TOOTH EFFIGY BONE ARROW POINT & DISCOIDAL

Sharks teeth club abstract picture.

SHARK TOOTH WEAPONS
MISSISSIPPIAN CULTURE
CAHOKIA MOUNDS STATE HISTORIC SITE &
OTHER LOCAL MISSISSIPPIAN SITES
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

    This article illustrates and describes several examples of Mississippian culture artifacts that relate to shark teeth. Both genuine shark teeth and effigies of them have been found on and near the Cahokia Mounds State Historic site. Shark teeth and effigies of them were used for side blades on at least one wooden club found at Cahokia. Also, shark teeth effigy arrow points made of bone and stone were used by the Cahokia people. Of particular interest is a wooden club that was excavated several years ago on the Cahokia Mounds site that was fitted along the edge with teeth from a great white shark.

    "In enlarging the excavation (at Cahokia), a wooden object was found which seemed to be sort of a club. On removal of the wood, five shark teeth were found with eight flint blade----."---195-, Greg Perino, "Cahokia Brought to Life," page 66 & 67.
    "At the time of Captain Cook's arrival (in Hawaii) in the late 18th century, there were many types of daggers and short clubs in use in Hawaii, the rarest of these being the shark tooth edged weapons." ---1990, John Charles Edler, "Art of Polynesia," page 75.
    "Shark-tooth weapons were used (in Hawaii) in hand-to-hand combat. The short handle, spatulate type were called palau papnihomano, and were used exclusively by chiefs and noble warriors."---1995, Anthony JP Meyer, "Oceanic Art," Vol. 2, page 579.
     "Sharks were attacked close to the shore (in eastern Brazil) by groups of Indians armed with short spears. Their arrows were tipped with shark teeth."-----1946, Metraux, Alfred, "Handbook of South American Indians," "The Guaitaca," Vol. 1, page 522.
    "Large conch-shell beads, shark teeth, and barracuda jaws also appear in Ohio (Hopewell) mounds."---1983, Dan F. & Phyllis A. Morse, "Archaeology of the Central Mississippi Valley," p. 163.


GREAT WHITE SHARK &
EFFIGY SHARK TEETH MADE OF CHERT
CAHOKIA MOUNDS STATE HISTORIC SITE
GILCREASE INSTITUTE COLLECTION (PHOTO BY BILL FECHT)

     On January 8, 1948 a rare discovery was made by Gregory Perino while surface collecting on the Cahokia Mounds site. In Cahokia Brought to Life he relates the story: "Today I made a quick surface survey as the horseradish had recently been plowed out. As I neared the end of the field a large celt could be seen, as it had been thrown upon a ridge. Near it was a large rock, and over the next ridge lay two unusual blades (shark tooth chert effigy points pictured above). They were of the rare type only found at Cahokia. These points average 1 3/4 inches (4.4 cm) in length and width, being triangular, with a curved point. They are serrated at the edges, smooth at the base. Five of these blades had been found previously to this excavation."
    "I happened to have my spade with me, so excavation began. Another blade was found in the plowed soil and bits of wood appeared. In enlarging the excavation, a wooden object was found which seemed to be a sort of a club. It lay parallel with a badly decayed skeleton. On removal of the wood, five shark teeth were found with eight flint blades as described. They were all lying in the soil under the piece of wood, but parallel to the wood and under its heaviest part."
    The picture above shows the shark teeth and the flaked stone effigy shark teeth that were found by Greg Perino. They were discovered on Mound 34 which is located just east of Monks Mound (the largest mound on the site). Mound 34 dates to about 1200 A.D. and it's considered to be a place where rituals were being performed. The shark teeth have been identified as teeth from a great white shark.

SHARK TEETH
& EFFIGIES OF THEM MADE FROM STONE AND BONE

     The Cahokia Mounds State Historic site is located in Madison and St. Clair Counties in southern Illinois. The people who were living there,  between 850 to 1400 A.D. were using a wide variety of raw materials. Some of these materials were traded in from long distances away. Items, like copper, mica and sea shells were transported hundreds of miles. Recording these non-local "exotic" materials has added a great deal of information to the archaeological record. They show how ancient cultures, within a region, interconnect with each other, through trade and various other ways. One of the rarest trade items found at Cahokia are teeth from a great white shark.


CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGE TRIPLE IMAGE
SHARK TOOTH EFFIGY BLADES
MISSISSIPPIAN CULTURE
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS & MISSOURI
PRIVATE COLLECTION

    The three points pictured above were surface collected several years ago on sites in southern Illinois and Missouri. They seem to  relate to Cahokia style artifacts. They may have been used as side blades that were mounted on the edges of club like weapons made of wood. Two of them are similar to the ones found by Greg Perino at Cahokia in 1948 that were attached to a wooden handle. The damaged example in the center has been darkened and possibly broken from fire. It was found in the Cahokia area. The complete point on the left is reported to have been found in southern Missouri.
    The stemmed point on the right has a curved and serrated blade that looks very similar in outline to that of a shark tooth. Although, it's not exactly like other examples that have been found at Cahokia and the stem has the look of a much older point from the Woodland period. It still may  have served as a side blade on some type weapon. It was found in the Cahokia Mounds area.

   Shark teeth have been used by primitive cultures in many places around the world. Captain Cook collected shark tooth weapons during his voyages in the Pacific. A group of people called the Guaitac who once lived on the coast of northeastern Brazil used arrows tipped with shark teeth. Another group called the Teremembe who were located along the southeastern coast of Brazil used spears tipped with shark teeth. The Cocle people of Panama made necklaces out of shark teeth.
   Shark teeth have been found on several sites in the Midwest and eastern U.S. They began to be traded inland during the Woodland and Mississippian periods.

Sharks tooth effigy arrow point.
CLICK ON PICTURE FOR LARGE TRIPLE IMAGE
SHARK TOOTH EFFIGY CAHOKIA POINT
MISSISSIPPIAN CULTURE
PRIVATE COLLECTION

     The most common type of arrow point found on the Cahokia Mounds site are the triangular Madison points. Madison points were rarely serrated. In fact, most of the serrated examples were discovered in caches during the excavation of Mound 72.  The  bases of these serrated points are usually straight and even sometimes convex.  In rare cases, examples have been found, like the one pictured above, that seem to be shaped like a shark tooth. This one is serrated and it has a very deep concave base.

   Ancient cultures all over the world have used various kinds of animal teeth for thousands of years. It's a very durable raw material that may have been more desirable (and prestigious) to use in place of a chert blade or biface in some instances. Pacific Islanders were using shark teeth to make several different kinds of cutting tools and weapons. In fact, they were making wooden clubs with shark teeth inserted along the edges similar to the one Greg Perino found at Cahokia in 1948. Shark teeth are exceptional for their sharp edges and must have been a desirable trade item to people living far away from the coast line.


SHARK TOOTH EFFIGY CAHOKIA POINT
MISSISSIPPIAN CULTURE
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY--EDWARDSVILLE MUSEUM COLLECTION

    This is another rare example of what appears to be a copy in stone of a shark tooth. It's a triangular point that has serrated blade edges and a concave base that is uniquely shaped in a way that is reminiscent of a shark tooth.

  The discovery of shark teeth on the Cahokia Mounds site is a testimony to the wide ranging area of trade that the people living there must have enjoyed. At least two or more different types of shark teeth have been discovered there. The most important discovery of shark teeth was made by Greg Perino on January 8, 1948 at mound 34. It was on this date that he found a wooden club that once held 5 shark teeth from a great white shark and eight chert points that were flaked into effigies of shark teeth. The wooden club was badly deteriorated as was the root tips of the shark teeth. In fact, it is believed that these shark teeth may have all been drilled like another example that was also excavated from this site.

CONTINUE ON TO PAGE TWO

"REFERENCES"

1946, Metraux, Alfred, "Handbook of South American Indians," "The Guaitaca," Vol. 1, The Marginal Tribes, page 522.
1946, Metraux, Alfred, "Handbook of South American Indians," "The Teremembe" Vol. 1, The Marginal Tribes, page 573.
1948, Lothrop, Smuel K. "Handbook of South American Indians," "The Archaeology of Panama," Vol. 4, The Circum-Caribbean Tribes, page 155.
195-, Perino, Greg, "Cahokia Brought to Life," page 66 & 67.
1972, Willey, Gordon R. "The Artifacts of Altar De Sacrificios," "Pierced Animal Teeth," page 239.
1975, Gilliland, Marion Spjut, "The Material Culture of Key Marco Florida," page 205, 215 and 217.
1978, Kaeppler, Adrienne L., "Artificial Curiosities," "An Exposition of Native Manufactures Collected on the Three Pacific Voyages of Captain James Cook, R.N.," pages 107-111.
1983, Morse, Dan F. and Phyllis, "Archaeology of the Central Mississippi Valley," page 163.
1990, Edler, John Charles, "Art of Polynesia," pages 76-77.
1995, Meyer, Anthony J.P, "Ocienic Art," Vol. II, page 579.
2003, Pawlaczyk, George, "Archaeological Site Turns Up Thousands of Ancient Artifacts" belleville.com "Belleville News-Democrat."
Personal communications with Larry Kinsella.

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