The Mantle Site: Photos of Ancient City

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Human pipe effigy

Mantle, archeaology

(Image credit: Owen Jarus)

Another human face

mantle, archealogoy

(Image credit: Owen Jarus)

This selection also offers a tantalizing glimpse at the faces of the people of the site.

Close up of a human face

mantle site

(Image credit: Photo courtesy Archaeological Services Inc.)

This selection also offers a tantalizing glimpse at the faces of the people of the site.

An effigy face

mantle site, archeaology

(Image credit: Owen Jarus)

An effigy face imprinted in pottery. This practice is associated with the Iroqouis of New York state, its presence at Mantle suggests that the inhabitants had extensive contact with them.

Attention to detail

mantle site, archeology

(Image credit: Owen Jarus)

This pipe effigy shows a tattooed man. Despite its small size the artist paid careful attention to detail.

Facial tattoos

mantle site, archeaology

(Image credit: Owen Jarus)

The tattooed man's face.

Woodpecker pipe

mantle site, archeaology

(Image credit: Archaeological Services Inc.)

A woodpecker pipe effigy, about 5 cm across. When you smoke the pipe do you become the woodpecker? That's one idea behind artifacts like this.

Owl artifact

mantle site, archeaology

(Image credit: Owen Jarus)

An owl effigy that would have been part of a pipe. The people of Mantle, and indeed all First Nations, held these effigies in high regard. When a pipe broke care was taken to maintain the effigy until it could be carefully deposited.

Pottery artifact

mantle site, archealogy

(Image credit: Owen Jarus)

A complete pot, with line decoration, discovered on site.

Mysterious artifact

mantle site, archeaology

(Image credit: Owen Jarus)

Held together by an unknown substance, this tiny artifact has archaeologists puzzled as to its use and the meaning of the notching.

Antler comb

mantle site, archeaology

(Image credit: Owne Jarus)

An antler comb found at the Mantle site.

Owen Jarus
Owen Jarus
Live Science Contributor

Owen Jarus is a regular contributor to Live Science who writes about archaeology and humans' past. He has also written for The Independent (UK), The Canadian Press (CP) and The Associated Press (AP), among others. Owen has a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Toronto and a journalism degree from Ryerson University.