A Quick Glance From A NC Resource

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bmartin0693

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Feb 22, 2012
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East Bend, North Carolina
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I really normally don't do this but I'm describing what a small hobby turns into being after 20 years. Here is my dresser completely covered with rocks of all sorts. There's about 5 containers under my bed with rocks I've decided to collect since I was younger. I keep pieces out here basically for observation; they're my newer pieces. Also, I collect from the mines of the Appalachian Mtns whenever it's the right time of year. I have books, if needed. Any hobbyist like me enjoys a few good books/resources. Anyone have a book to suggest I would like to know, esp. for the East Coast or North Carolina. I have been trying to describe the natural landscapes in my area and the geology is very important part of archaeology here. With all this said, I would like to describe quickly about the importance of quartz. That is what all these lithic materials are made of; mainly flint, chert, rhyolite, obsidian and even meta-sandstone, schist, slate, shale and clay minerals. Natives, where ever you may live, knows that is the ingredient to make stones useable. That is when the geologist describes the surrounding landscape, the age and the process that created it. Then an archaeologist describes the nature of such material, having age/signature due to human modifications. I may not completely be knowledgeable about this subject b/c I certainly don't have a degree. That's why I enjoy the thought processes and seeing others thought processes are here on discussion. Anyone want to add anything else to my discussion I will gladly listen b/c all I want to gain is a better understanding myself and maybe for others who are needing to learn as well. Thanks and have a blessed day!
 

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GatorBoy

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I mean this as nicely as possible ..as I have been as a child..and still am a rock and gem collector.
I belive your overreaching when it comes to the Native American artifacts in your area.
The assemblage is well documented and I'm sure some more specific research on that subject will serve you well.
There seems to be an over compensation on your part concerning geological processes that take hundreds of thousands of years verses.. the effects of nature on Native American stone artifacts that were made mostly less than 10,000 years ago.
While these two subjects have definite connections... they are two very different subjects.
 

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bmartin0693

bmartin0693

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Feb 22, 2012
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East Bend, North Carolina
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Thanks GB. I would not be trying to tell people such things if I didn't have reasoning. I'm not really going to say they all were artifacts but from what all I've seen in Yadkin, Surry and Stokes so far, this spot in particular must make one wonder who really lived and worked here. Does biofacts normally accumulate within a 25 yard stretch of creek? Plus I had a little added insurance from a well known collector that they are not normal. He told me "they're 4,000 to 10,000 years old, they're definitely the materials the Archaic people in this area used secondary (quick and easy). For example, saws, hand axes, stone clubs and knives. Also he said, "it describes the nature of work they did here." I told it word for word, from me to you and not cited from a book. When I look at rocks I see processes that take millions of years to create; 10,000 years is merely a fraction. I have taken various other samples as well and I see the stories some convey. If I call one of my rocks an artifact, you better believe I have decent reasoning. I find flakes of lithic materials around all the time, but I do not consider all them to be artifact or even any of them. You notice I've only found two whole arrowheads here from the Archaic period as well. I've found more on that land but they're very scattered about. This spot is located about 5 miles from a well advanced Woodland period village named Donnaha. Where you have later peoples, the earlier peoples are not far away (maybe different depending on where you live). Why not find more reasoning to what the sands of time left behind? There is a good archaeological, yet geological explanation for this matter. Anyway, I have made use of some of the rocks and I've actually have some sold to a certain person who loves stone clubs. All I have to do is make them, which my family is known to make wooden crafts, toys and misc. things. Some of these I found looks pretty awesome with handles on them, like a hand-held weapon. I'm actually glad I found these b/c the right buyer just came around at the right time too. 8-)
 

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GatorBoy

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I don't know what to make of your intensions... but good luck with whatever makes you happy.
I like the facts and actual artifacts myself.
 

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bmartin0693

bmartin0693

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Feb 22, 2012
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I don't know what to make of your intensions... but good luck with whatever makes you happy.
I like the facts and actual artifacts myself.

You know that's what really brings this hobby to life. Sometimes for me it's only a sample and sometimes it's more. I believe some allowed me to find them. Either way, if I find an arrowhead or a geofact I'm pleased.
 

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bmartin0693

bmartin0693

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Feb 22, 2012
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"With analytic eyes on how tools are made and used, Ward and Davis note telling similarities between those used by middle Archaic and historic foragers. Regardless of era, foragers use more throw-away implements, or expedient tools. Slivers of sharp stone flakes act as knives; scrapers are nothing more than large flakes hastily, but efficiently, chipped along the business end. Middle Archaic sites are loaded with these discards, while crafted tools, like the triangular scraper, are absent. Archaeologists think this means people no longer made and carried such items around. More mobile, more immediately attuned to what they needed at the moment, people during the middle Archaic made work-a-day items when they were called for and then tossed them aside." There is a lot of good info from this site (scroll and check out the other lessons): Intrigue of the Past: Lesson 3.2 That quote right there explains my situation very well; I have found a perfect-looking large flake scraper, exhausted celts, quartzite-schist knives, and a few completely worn out saws and handaxes. I know there was Archaic people traveling, working or living really close by. Next, I need to start finding their better quality materials. I am really hoping to put a Clovis in this collection. Even if I can't find a whole one, B. Martin will always be thankful for what he gets.
 

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GatorBoy

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For whatever reason you keep trying to teach people with alot more experience than you
Now your trying to teach artifacts 101...
Like said by a previous member.. you need to learn first.
You have all sorts of puzzle pieces but haven't put them in order yet.
Good luck.. I am through.
 

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bmartin0693

bmartin0693

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Feb 22, 2012
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East Bend, North Carolina
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A black quartzite Dalton. It has an unknown provenance but it's estimated to be from the southern-central US. That isn't an ordinary jewelry box by the way. It actually holds the real treasures. See that '81-'82 Championship UNC Tarheel bottle too? Beside that in the corner is a huge jar full of Wheat/Indian Head pennies (estimated approximately 1,500 total by weight). You can say this isn't an ordinary collection. Ever heard of a perfectly round stone being used as weapon? Very simple however, a closer distance is needed for aim. I've seen a resource on the web describing such nature as that too. I don't put up links only for GB. That site is resourceful and gives a very good overview of the periods, in general. Also, I found certain quotes intriguing as well.
 

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bmartin0693

bmartin0693

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Feb 22, 2012
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East Bend, North Carolina
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Here's a picture of a stone tool I found in Google to compare to. I wanted to see what all others are out there. This one in particular looks like a stone axe I found also. I think mine will end up looking better than this one when I'm done. I like the concept of inventing a more passive Archaic weaponry. That's how God intends things to be I believe. NOTE: These weapons I make can potentially harm someone if used such a way. They're not intended for people under 18 years old.
 

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urbantreasure

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Wow what happened to Christian niceties that was being mentioned before? I guess if forum members don't agree with one another it can get pretty ugly!
 

GatorBoy

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That person is by far an exception.
We all get along here pretty well.
We have occasional spats .. but we get over it.
Some of us are hard headed.. myself included.. but that was just nonsense.
 

SCrocks

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FredSanford.jpg
 

NC field hunter

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<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=816312"/>

Redd Foxx, classic. Sanford and son is the best show of all times. Proven fact, not opinion. Perfect for this occasion "how bout I give you 5 of these across the lip"
 

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