TUBE-PIPE, MALAGA COVE, SANTA MONICA BAY, CALIFORNIA

Length:  2”

Rim Diameter:  1 ¼”

Weight:   3.0 oz

This pipe, among other artifacts found over the years, was uncovered in a debris pile at Malaga Cove.

 –In fact, as I have learned, several old time residents of the area, have maintained a large collection of tube pipes from this region.

Malaga Cove is the region along the northern most shoreline of Palos Verdes Estates.

For  centuries the ancient Chumash people would negotiate a trail atop the cliffs to access the ocean below.  Frequent use of this trail inevitably led to many stone artifacts being “lost” on the climb down.  Over the years several tube pipes have been uncovered here.

The listed pipe is a small tube-like structure with a wide smoking area leading down to a more refined mouth region. 

Many dings and chinks can be seen along its length.

Tube pipes in southern California have a long and controversial history.  Some scholar claim they were simply used by Natives for personal pleasure; while other researchers point towards their more spiritual palliative use—the idea that a shaman would blow smoke onto an injury (along with poultices & chants) to heal a person. 

While tube pipes were rather simple instruments of inhaling smoke, their actual function if probably a mix of personal  pleasure and the more lofty use as a healing aid.

This pipe has seen much use and its condition is relatively intact, save for some chinks and grind-hole nicks.

Dings, rim / smoking tube chinks, much sand abrasion