ITS BEEN A WHILE SINCE I VISITED THIS POST BUT IT HAS TURNED OUT WELL. DETLEF I REALLY LIKE YOUR CROCODILE JAW DAGGER IT IS THE BEST I HAVE SEEN. TIM I LIKE THE STAFF YOU HAVE AS WELL NICELY CARVED AND UNUSUAL WITH THE SMILING FACE AND SERIOUS FACE AT THE TOP. CONGRADULATIONS TO YOU BOTH.
I TOO HAVE FOUND RED POWDER AS WELL AS WHITE POWDER ON SOME ITEMS IN THE PAST. I EITHER CAREFULLY REMOVE IT OR SEAL IT WITH HAIRSPRAY DEPENDING ON THE ITEM. THIS MAY BE UNECESSARY BUT I LIKE TO ERR ON THE SIDE OF SAFETY WHEN DEALING WITH UNKNOWN SUBSTANCES. RED, YELLOW AND OTHER COLORS OF OCRE ARE NOT HAZARDOUS BUT THE MAYANS AND SOME OTHERS WERE FOND OF USING A RED POWDER MADE OF MERCURY ORE TO DUST TOMBS AND THINGS. IN EGYPT HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES WERE USED IN TOMBS AS WELL. THIS MAY HAVE BEEN FOR ITS PRESERVATIVE POWERS BUT COULD PROVE DEADLY OR AT LEAST BAD FOR THE HEALTH OF THOSE WHO WERE CARELESS IN HANDELING IT.