A (then) twenty-something hunter walked a beach of the Ohio River, recognized what he held in his hands--the bowl of a 1250--1400 era Mississippian tobacco pipe. The piece was still muddy, but recognizable. He showed it to his brother who immediately exclaimed HE'D found the piece the day before, thought it was modern, filled with sediment--he tossed back into the water. Passing barges washed the mud/ sand out with their wave action. It's been in my collection since about 1985-I'd thought it was lost. Shows what happens when you use a back room of your basement as a "catch-all". Now, was the piece originally an 'elbow pipe", or was this the bowl of a long-stemmed pipe--I opt for the latter, this bowl sat on top of a 6"(?) baked clay stem. Note the 'bottom', though, it was purposely ground smooth; my thought is that the ancient user fashioned a woody stem to come out the bottom hole (small diameter) from the bowl--then the piece could continue to be smoked. Reeds growing along the river, sort of a 'natural cane' would work if you found just the right piece. You used what you had, it'd seem. Some wild cane I've seen, the above ground roots are all twisted, they'd be perfect. Someone might have a different 'take', but that's mine--the piece is real, period. I'll include the full history on the printout of the item description. Shipping is $6.00, checks or M.O.s are welcomed. Sorry, I do not use paypal--Roy A.