This bone needle case was recovered from a sub-floor pit in a c. 1690-1720s slave quarter/out-kitchen in Burlington County. It is decorated with repeating series of four incisions. The repetition of four has significant magical and spiritual meaning for several West African cultures, particularly those of the Kwa language cultures who were heavily exploited for enslavement. It likely served a divination purpose at the site as it was found in association with quartz crystal, quartz pebbles, and a copper spoon. A similar bone needle case was also recovered from a c. 1700-1730 slave quarter at Utopia in Virginia. The NJ bone needle case along with the identification of a subfloor pit and other artifacts found at the site more commonly in the Chesapeake region may speak to the sale of enslaved Africans from that area northwards to NJ.
📸: Photographed by Allison Gall
📩: Submitted by Adam Heinrich
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