Mr. Larson1951....graver?

[1320]

Hey Steve, your recent scraper post made me curious and look a little closer at the scrapers I've found in the Archaic shelter. The one photographed was actually found by my 5 year old son Clay while "playing" in the sand! Not sure if the photo will show it well but this one has a "notch" in it with some grinding or flaking on top of the notch. When looked at from the non flaked side, the possible graver shows a little better. Do you think this is a graver or a by product of the manufacturing process? What would cause those scratch marks on the top? Looks like someone took a dremmel tool to it!

[joshuaream]

In my experience most graver tips show more wear than the rest of the piece (unless it is heavily creek tumbled.) There are also usually a couple of different flakes that went into the preparation. The flake scars and edges should be rounded if it was used, it might be subtle, but it should be there. From your picture it looks like a graver to me.

The scratches in the flint are a spot where the energy during the knapping process was too great and caused the flint to break irregularly (tear) instead of breaking cleanly. Basically they whacked it too hard.

[1320]

Thanks Joshua, both my son and I are thrilled about this one.

P.S. He likes your avatar

[joshuaream]

The avatar is a gorget/mask made from obvious material. It is in the anthropology museum in Mexico City and came from a big cache of blades, masks and other Aztec goodies at the Templo Mayor.

[larson1951]

yup it looks like a graver spur to me
it is a nice scraper also
the maker of that piece could have easily removed that spur with a minimum pressure flake if it was not intended to be there
i don't think i have seen one with a graver spur made in that area which in my opinion makes it very cool and unique
i will try to post a scraper with graver spurs typical of what one from this area but first i have to locate one
i have all my artifacts kinda packed away for the time being cuz of the missouri river flooding situation but i will get to it
in the mean time please tell little clay that the guitar and banjo pickin' larson1951 is proud of him and he wishes you luck and hopes you find more on your next hunt
steve

[larson1951]

this link will show a graver spur on a scraper (figure a)
this is an early scraper


figure b shows a later scraper with no graver spur

the link http://www.ou.edu/cas/archsur/OKArtifacts/Fig6.htm


steve

[1320]

Thanks Steve, I told him! He's very proud of himself. I'll probably never see it again as it's heading to show and tell this morning!