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HEMISPHERES
ILLINOIS
LATE ARCHAIC / WOODLAND
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COPYRIGHT
APRIL 30, 2011 PETER A. BOSTROM
These
eighteen hemispheres were found in Illinois. Most of them were found
in either Madison or St. Clair Counties. They illustrate a wide
range of craftsmanship and materials. Most of them are made of
different types of hard stones. The hardest is granite and quartz.
The stone located in the second row and second from the left is made
of quartz. The hemispheres located at top left and the second one to
the right of it are made of hematite. A fairly large number of
hemispheres are reported to have been made of hematite.
All of these hemispheres have a generally round shape on top
with a flat side on the bottom. Their basic circular outline extends
slightly beyond the center point of a circle. Some are almost
circles. But they all have a straight flat surface on one side
that allows them to stand up very straight without leaning to one
side. The craftsman seems to have needed a steady base upon which
they could rest. The largest hemisphere in this group measures 2
1/32 inches (5.1 cm) long, 1 1/2 inches (3.8 cm) high and 1 3/16
inches (3.1 cm) thick. The smallest, which is an unfinished example
located at left in second row, measures 1 9/16 inches (4 cm) long, 1
5/16 inches (3.3 cm) high and 1 3/16 inches (3 cm) thick. They range
in weight from 58 grams to 104 grams. The heaviest is made of
hematite. All of the weights are 2 @ 58 grams, 5 @ 60 grams, 61 gr,
2 @ 70 gr, 74 gr, 80 gr, 88 gr, 90 gr, 98 gr, 100 gr, 102 gr, and
104 grams. The average weight is 75.16 grams.
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