The Hopewell Mica Claw

By

Clifford C. Richey

May 2009

The above Image is drawn from a Hopewell mica cutout from Ohio. It dates from 100 BC to 500 AD. Mica is a mineral that can be pulled apart into thin, almost transparent sheets. It was probably this transparency and sheen that attracted the Native American to this material. The transparency may well have represented something that was unseen or invisible. The sheen could reflect the rays of the sun.

We begin our translation as usual by making straight lines around the imagery. This results in a vertical rectangle meaning a vertical place. Next we look at the Initial Form of the Claw and see that it is in the Form of a Rabbit.

Illustration 1: Bird's Claw

Illustration 2: Rabbit

The Claw is a Birds Claw and, is most likely, the Claw of an Eagle which represents the Associational Imagery for the Sun. The Claw serves as the Bird's hand so the meaning is probably that of the Hand of the Sun. The Form of the Rabbit represents the Moon as the native Americans tended to see a Rabbit on the Moon as opposed to a Man in the Moon. Therefore this mica cutout is about the Sun and the Moon.

Following the layered system of sign composition we must now look for signs within the Imagery. The compounded Circles have been slightly extracted from the other signs in order to see them better. The two signs at the top of the cut out are Two Fingers representing the signs for ascending up and over. These signs also indicate Leaders or Chieftains –those who are higher than others, and able to look down upon on them. These are compound signs and incorporated within them are the Circular location signs. Such circles also function for numbers, in this case the number two. The number two referring to the Sun and the Moon. Behind the locational signs are the signs for the sky-arc.

The Sun andThe

Moon

The Location of

The TwoAscending

In the Arc of The

Sky

Next we find another location and number sign (one). This time the Finger points out a Direction, downward or below. Here we find a large location sign and another number one sign. The sign is very large relative to the other Circle signs.

Illustration 3: Signs Within The Imagery

The Location of

The Great One

This sign is within the Imagery of a large Eye. This relates to the Eye-of-The Sun (Venus- The Warrior's Star). Next to the Eye is the Form of a Foot (yellow) meaning a walk or journey.

The Eye of The SunIts

LocationBelow

The Location

of Its

Journeyits

Arising

Below this is another Finger pointing upward. The Leg of the Claw or the Neck of the Rabbit is a vertical place sign. A place that has depth and height. From this place stems the locational sign and the Finger pointing upward in the sign for arising. The Claw And Rabbit face westward thus heading toward the horizon and sunset (darkness). Meanwhile the Eye-of the Sun is starting it journey upward.

At various points on the cutouts are holes (especially toward the finger tips where feathers could be attached indicating flight. How this Claw was used is unknown but it is possible that it was somehow suspended where its movement would make it shimmer in the sunlight.

Illustration 4: Repeat of Signs Within The Imagery