The "tongue test" is good at determinng bones, pipestems and other highly
porous materials.  A touch of the object to the wet tongue or lip will give
a clue as to what it is.  If it sticks it is bone or pipestem, earthenware,
or whatever.  I tend to taste rocks to see if they are sandstones, shales,
or limestones.  Of course I stopped doing much of that after putting a
cremated chunk of Earl Stott to my lip during the Rogers Island excavations
in Fort Edward, NY.

It is not really recommended for several reasons, including contamination
of the object or contamination of the tester, but most people I know do it
now and then.

         Dan W.



>I was just curious about the previously mentioned "tongue" test.  What does it
>tell you about stoneware versus earthenware?
>Thanks in advance,
>Jessica