Soapstone Disk

3D Model

Soapstone Disk (specimen #093-397). The Berry Site (31BK22). Burke County, North Carolina. Excavated in 2016 by Warren Wilson College Field School. Unit: N807E206, level: Plowzone 1. Weight: 26.8 g. Material: Soapstone.

Remarks: This soapstone disk was made by Native Americans and used as a gaming piece or a counter in games of chance. Disks were often made out of pieces of pottery or stone. This disk is distinctive due to the incised cuts on both sides of the disk. While these disks are usually attributed to Native Americans, the cut marks on this particular disk are deep, acute, angled cuts that might have been made by an iron knife.