Ohio point, a recent addition to my keeper frame

[joshuaream]

I picked up this point at the AACA show last weekend. I got it to go in the Dovetail frame, but the more that I look at it, the more I see some neat Decatur like charateristics on this guy. (I'm still calling it a Dove.)

Just about 4.8 inches long, and made from what I think is heavily patinated Flintridge. It could be Mercer, but because of the translucency and the crystal pocket I think it's ridge. One little spot of ancient rework on the side, but other than that it's a nice, thin, high grade dove.









I noticed a couple of different things as I was scoping it, and putting it in my frame. First, the neck (area between notches) is quite a bit bigger than my other doves. It could just be beefy, but it's significantly wider. Second, I noticed two very small but well made and bifacially worked micro notches on the dove tail portion. They look like a platform they that could be used to fracture the base like on a decatur. Finally, the shoulders have slight but distinct flares or wings, a common trait on decaturs.






Here is a decatur from Jackson's current auction, that shows what larger decaturs look like. What do you all think?

[ShowmeMoflint]

Nice purchase thanks for the peek Josh

[Miami-valley-artifacts]

I have handled that piece and mulled over whether to buy for several years now. I see where you can see some decatur traits but it has overwhelming dovetail traits. With the area of the presumed find location being that it is from south west Ohio, it may not have the traditional central Ohio base and notching traits. Also Dark Co. is spelled Darke Co. just for your records. The material I have always thought was a light Upper mercer flint, could be ridge, but I would call it mercer if it was mine. Great piece though, Scott - www.miamivalleyartifacts.com

[uniface]

Good piece and even better eye, Joshua

In Pennsylvania, you will commonly find Decatur burination on Pinetrees, Charlestons and other early archaic points. Similarly, you can find Decatur points that look nothing like Decatur points, but are.

[Th3rty7]

Killer point Imo it's a dovetail, I've never seen a Decatur with a convex base.