Seven round agate marbled which are orange and milky white in color. Used for tying a water drum's hide onto its kettle. Stored in a gray drawstring bag with the brand name "Revo" impressed diagonally across the bag.

These drum marbles would have been used on a water drum during a Native American Church ceremony. The head of the drum would have required to been kept taught, so the marbles allow for the head of the drum to be adjusted during the ceremony. The leather drum head would have been heated over the fire to allow for stretching. The church house would have owned the drum kettle and the drum parts. The drum itself was a standard cast iron kettle of a particular size, and then they would have modified the kettle to suit their needs. Water drums and kettle production became an expensive trade over time. Glass marbles were the common item for use with stretching the leather deer skin hide across the top. Drum marbles and drums were only used during a peyote meeting.

Tags: drum marbles, orange, white, gray bag
People: Osage
Places: Southern Plains, Oklahoma
Purpose: peyote meeting

From interviews with Dr. Garrick Bailey, 2018-2020 University of Tulsa, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology