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These two alternately beveled knives were recovered from the Griffing site and donated to the Kansas Historical Society in 1902. The Griffing site, in Riley County, had numerous lodges present and likely represents a scatter of farmsteads from the Central Plains tradition occupied during the Middle Ceramic period. Based on pottery recovered at the site it is likely that at least a portion of the site was occupied by Smoky Hill aspect peoples. Archeologists believe that knives shaped like these would have been used for bison butchering. Repeated sharpening on alternate sides created bevels. Knives with the general diamond shape are also sometimes called Harahey knives.
Date: 1000-1500 CE
Item Number: 443548
Call Number: 14RY21 02.3.16 & .2.3.17 Griffing donation
KSHS Identifier: DaRT ID: 443548
Collections - Archeology
Objects and Artifacts - Archeological Artifacts
Objects and Artifacts - Archeological Artifacts - Artifact Class - Chipped Stone
Objects and Artifacts - Archeological Artifacts - Artifact Type - Knife
Objects and Artifacts - Archeological Artifacts - Artifact Type - Knife - Harahey
People - American Indians
People - American Indians - Prehistoric Cultures - Smoky Hill
Places - Counties - Riley
Thematic Time Period - Early Peoples, 10000 BCE - 1820 CE - Middle Ceramic, 1000 - 1500 CE
http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/443548