"TALKING ROCKS"
"Talking Rocks" were an important teaching aid for the children in many Indigenous families. They told stories of things that were important to the culture and to the survival of the people. These "Talking Rocks" were especially prevalent in families whose tradition was stone carving. Grey Eagle recalls playing with "Talking Rocks" when he was a child, stones that were passed down through his family for generations.
The "Talking Rocks" shown in these rooms of the Grey Eagle Museum are two-sided. Each tells a specific story. Part of the story is on one side and the completion of the story is on the other. Each "Talking Rock" is hand carved from Sacred Pipe Stone by Cherokee Artist, Grey Eagle.
BASKETS
Baskets have always been of great importance in almost every culture. Their uses are limitless. They can carry burdens, store things, they are used for gathering and some are even tightly woven enough to hold water. These two "Talking Rocks" tell the story of the basket.
This is the story of a River Cane Basket. In the center is a stalk of river cane. At the base of the river cane is a serrated flint tool used to cut the cane down. On the opposite side of the cane stalk is a river cane splitter tool and a flint knife. These 2 tools were used on the long jointed object which is a section of the cane. From this section of cane the splits were made that are shown at the top right. The splits were then woven into a basket, which is shown on side 2 of this "Talking Rock"
Side 1
Side 2
A completed basket made from river cane splits.
POTTERY and CLAY OBJECTS
Clay had many functions for the Indigenous people. This "Talking Rock" tells that story.
Side 1
Side 2
This is the story of clay. Here there are slabs of clay, coils of clay and balls of clay. All of these were used to make the objects shown on side 2 of this "Talking Rock".
These are finished objects made from clay. In the center is an incised (decorated) pot. Around this are clay pipes, pieces of pottery and a jewelry medallion.
"Basketry Talking Rock" (actual size)
"Pottery Talking Rock" (actual size)
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