awl or nothing?

**tomsneck** · Mar 09, 2007, 05:05 PM

No wind on the island so I went out after work and found this on the beach. The place I've been looking is a spot where the spit dredged sand and mud up on the beach(so some nice fancy houses have beach front), so I'm assuming it spent its life in the mud of a salt pond. I haven't seen any bone in my years of looking, and I'm assuming thats because it would have gotten chewed on by mice or something.? Anyways if any of you have anything like it or could confirm my idea that it's an awl I'd appreciate it.

keep a sharp lookout,
colin

**bean man** · Mar 09, 2007, 05:31 PM

Yep, thats a bone awl, imo.

**Cannonman17** · Mar 09, 2007, 06:18 PM

I would say it's possible but without close anaylsis impossilbe to say. My first impression is that it looks a bit wide.... wish you knew exactly where it came from ( I mean if it was dredged from an old site or what not) At any rate certainly worth keeping, I would like to see a carbon date on that- thanks for posting!

**texasriverdigger** · Mar 10, 2007, 11:15 PM

there are alot of tools made for whatever reasons or uses, most were simple in nature and throwed down after use.. why spend alot of time on a tool when the task is simple? it is seen most thru the development of man and recorded artifacts early Paleo thru the Historic period.. it could have been used as a awl..