ENGRAVED CRANIAL
BONE RATTLES

PINSON MOUNDS SITE
MADISON COUNTY, TENNESSEE
MIDDLE WOODLAND PERIOD
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COPYRIGHT NOVEMBER 30, 2009 PETER A. BOSTROM

   These engraved human bone rattles were discovered during the excavation of Twin Mounds on the Pinson Mounds site. Each one was found at the knees of an adult male who was approximately 45 years old. Each of these rattles were found in pairs of circular discs that were cut from a human cranium. Only these two discs were engraved. Luckily, the plain halves were the least preserved of the four pieces. Each pair of rattles are drilled at the edges where they were tied together with thongs. Small yellow quartzite river pebbles were used to create the sound. Several strings of ovoid shell beads were also found that may have been attached to the rattles. These rattles measure approximately 3 15/16 inches (10 cm) in diameter.
   Pinson Mounds is a mortuary complex covering approximately 400 acres and located in Madison County, Tennessee. It's the largest Middle Woodland period site in the southeast, dating to approximately 200 B.C. to A.D. 400.

Casts of two human bone rattles from Pinson Mounds.

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