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rare artifacts

Rare artifacts to be auctioned Oct. 27 by T&T Archaeological Consulting

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf
rare artifacts
Monolithic ax, 9 3/8 inches, found in a tractor toolbox in Washington County, Virginia.
Formerly in the Thomas Beutell Collection. Estimate: $200,000-$250,000. Tony Putty Artifacts image

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. – The Steve Elwood Prehistoric Artifact Collection will be sold on Oct. 27 by T&T Archaeological Consulting. Absentee and Internet live bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.

Rarity abounds in the Elwood collection. One of the headline artifacts being offered is a monolithic ax. Monolithic axes were made in the Late Woodland to Early Mississippian periods and date between 1100 A.D. and 1400 A.D. Most experts believe there are less than 25 known examples and consider these stone tools to be the rarest of all North American artifact forms. The Elwood monolithic ax (above) was discovered by a local collector in Washington County, Virginia—in the toolbox of a tractor where it had been for years since being found on the farm. It was soon acquired by Thomas Beutell and was documented in his artifact collection by several well-known publications.

A Hopewell effigy pipe from the Steve Elwood Collection will also be sold in this auction. Made of a maroon pipestone, this delicate frog effigy pipe dates to the Late Woodland (Hopewell) period. It, too, is a remarkably rare prehistoric artifact. Few exist, particularly in private collections. Many people believe there are fewer than 100 of these rare Pipe forms in existence.

rare artifacts
Hopewell frog effigy pipe of maroon pipestone, 2 15/16 inches, found in Iowa, restored. Estimate: $70,000-$100,000. Tony Putty Artifacts image

While putting together his collection, Steve Elwood acquired the fabulous Dave Harvey Collection. With it, Elwood added many rare and exquisite flint artifacts, some dating 10,000 years in age. The Elwood flint artifacts contain many made of exotic materials such as Knife River flint, Hixton quartzite and jasper. Included in this offering is a paleo Clovis point made of translucent Knife River flint, considered to be one of the finest known (below).

rare artifacts
Translucent Knife River flint Clovis, 3 1/8 inches, Fremont County, Iowa. $6,000-$8,000. Tony Putty Artifacts image

No description of the Elwood Collection would be complete without mention of his fine axes. Being offered in this sale is one of the finest Mills County-style axes ever found. Measuring over 10 inches, it was found with a cache of axes in 1884 and displayed at the 1893 Exposition at the Field Museum in Chicago.

rare artifacts
Mills County-style ax, 10¼ inches, found in 1984 in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. Estimate: $15,000-$30,000. Tony Putty Artifacts image

The Elwood Prehistoric Artifact Collection contains some of the rarest and finest North American prehistoric artifacts to be offered to the public in many years.

For additional information, contact Tony Putty at tonyputtyartifacts.com or by phone at 317-509-0860.

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