This basketry ladle was another artifact brought to the Museum in 1939 by Lee and Jones. Ladle forms are not typical in Fremont material culture areas making the recovery of this one from Mantle's Cave very intriguing. Generally ladles are thought to have their origins in Ancestral Puebloan basketry and pottery. Some basketry ladles have been found at Aztec Ruin and Chaco Canyon (Morris and Burgh 1941), and they are generally associated with Ancestral Puebloan material culture.
This distinctive artifact is close-coiled and has a one-rod and bundle foundation with interlocking stitches. It is made of willow. The method of starting is continuous coil and the work direction is right to left. The work surface is convex and the rim is a self rim. It is a very well made specimen with tightly coiled stitches. The fag and moving ends seem to be bound under. The cup portion of this artifact contains minor charring. The ladle measures 17 cm long and 9 cm wide. Similar to the globular basket, the construction techniques of the ladle are predominantly typical Fremont, while the form is not, again suggesting Ancestral Puebloan influence.
This artifact has not been dated.