Title

Stone Hide Scraper

Description

Stone implement for preparing hides. 6 inches long. It is chipped and roughly shaped into a tool. Original card reads: "Used by the Indians in preparing hides. It was found on the west shore of Lake Westport. One end is blunt, but it tapers to a point at the other end. It is 6 inches long. At the blunt end it is 3.5 inches wide. It has been worn smooth by the water - it was found in the water." In 2015, Archaeologists from the Minnesota Historical Society visited our museum and identified several of the pieces in our collection. They confirmed that this was probably a hide scrapper. It is made from knife river flint from west central North Dakota. It was frequently traded and used throughout Minnesota.