If anyone is familiar with ethnographic artifact class known as "self-scratchers" (cf: Elsie Clews Parson, _Pueblo Indian Religion_,  pp. 53 & 1055, I would appreciate any info. I have come across mention of a feature in old excavation records (early 1950's) of a cave in the Jornada Mogollon region of SE New Mexico that is described as a "menstrual pit", apparently on the basis of a polished stick identified as a "scratcher." I'm guessing this to be the same type of artifact that Parsons describes as a component of female puberty ceremonies and associated with Athapaskan peoples. The site is primarily Jornada, but could contain Apache and/or Archaic components. No materials were ever dated.

 

The feature, at nearly 1m. depth, was a 12" x 46" covered with a row of small parallel logs, like a little plank bridge. The "scratcher" and another polished stick (described as a "cane") were "among" the logs. The pit beneath contained a "fill with charcoal vegetation, bits of wood, coprolite, pack rat holes and corncobs." There were reeds on top of the feature that may have been matting. The alleged scratcher is references as "the short stick" in comparison to the "cane."

 

I have never before encountered any reference to any such feature in any cave in the region, or to any female ritual activity in caves (this is a serious dark zone cave, not an open rockshelter) I would be grateful for any possibly related information from ethnographic or archaeological sources on scratchers or related elements of menstruation, purification or puberty ritual in the SW or other regions, to any cave ritual with women as the agents, or to morphologically similar features.

 

Thanks.

 

Best,

 

Scott Nicolay

Shiprock,  NM