“Drum” Bones

Extract

On many sites in the Pease and Red river section of Wilbarger County, Texas, are found numerous “drum” bones of fish. They occur on the surface of camp sites, which are on sandy terrain along river banks or on the slopes of nearby sand dunes, along with the average run of artifacts, including flint projectile points, scrapers, manos, and potsherds. Other fish remains do not appear. The question which has interested the writer is whether these strange bones owe their presence on the sites to their inherent durability or to the attention and care accorded them by the Indians.

This area is noted for its Gaspergou or Drum fish. Within a cavity in the skull of this fish are located a pair of bones which the river folk term “drummers.” A three pound fish will produce a pair the size of a ten-cent piece. One side is convex, the other side is an irregular plane.