Archaic or earlier?

[TheTh3rd]

2nd to last pic looks like a cardinal head

 

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[southfork]

Your kidding right ? nice rock collection .

 

[TheTh3rd]

No not really, they show signs of being chipped and worked. Alot have finger notches.

 

[Calgarychef]

If you're picking these up and getting excited more power to you. I've Flint knapped quite a bit and I'd be hard pressed to see where any of the pieces have been worked by man. On the other hand the Flint pieces make me drool because in alberta we don't have Flint to play with, how I wish I was back in England!

 

[Calgarychef]

Some tips to identify worked stone... There's going to be a bulb of percussion, there's going to be visible shock waves from the force applied to form a flake. there's almost certainly going to be alternate flaking, one side to the other. Witht the exception of the really small piece which is too small to see I don't see any evidence of being worked.

 

[TheTh3rd]

So this its just "natural"

 

[Calgarychef]

That last one is the most "likely" looking one but I still struggle to see it as worked, It's a real toss up though. You'd be surprised what Mother Nature can do with freeze thaw cycles. Did you find it in a plowed field by chance?

 

[TheTh3rd]

Thanks for the reply.. yes and no, it used to be a field but now its ab a 2 acre pond. My g-pa had it dug in the 60's and used the dirt to make the back "levy" One part is 15 ft deep so im digging in the dirt from that area--i hope that makes sense

 

[Tnmountains]

Good you are recognizing flint pieces and it looks like just one is worked and its iffy. Do not get discouraged These points were found less than a mile from you. They are rough field points and very old stemmers. I hope this helps you. I have found some of the best and some of the worst in your valley. Very few good sources of flint as you can see buy the rough pieces we have.

 

[yakker]

Hey there- Unfortunately it's more than likely that all your rocks are just rocks. Often they're called 'geofacts' 'cause they look so tempting. You might try searching this sight for 'geofacts' vs artifacts and see what you get. Here's another link to another site where the same questions was posed. Archaeology: Are these rocks or artifacts?, native american artifacts, bulverde texas
You might want to google 'finger notches' too to see what you come up with. I don't think there really is such a thing, although quite a few people have showed their goods saying- 'it fits in the hand so well'. Which may be true, but it doesn't prove it's an artifact. Much of the trouble folks have these days is because there are a lot of silly people on ebay trying to foist rocks on unsuspecting, unwary buyers.
When I first started collecting, I picked up a ridiculous number of what I thought were hammer-stones. Turns out there are a lot of them in and around rivers and they're called cobbles. Nature-made. So my garden has a lot of nice round rocks. Then I went for shapes. One thing or another would just look 'right' to me. But not being very seasoned at this wonderful hobby, I just didn't know what to train my eye for.
Also, there are rocks that have been busted up by a person, but are not technically an artifact or tool. But it's amazing what nature can do with all the cold and heat and water and erosion and such. Keep at it- and do as much on-line research as you can- on almost anywhere BUT ebay. See what people show when they're not trying to sell. See what's being shown in various museums. It certainly isn't all glamour and beauty. Most artifacts are simple field-grade examples. But with everything you look at you'll get better and better at spotting the ral thing when you see it.

Good luck- and hang in there. Keep showing us what you find and above all, don't give up! HH! Yakker

 

[Tnmountains]

Great post Yakker !!!!

 

[yakker]

Thanks TN! (sometimes I get it right...sigh...)

 

[TheTh3rd]

Thanks Yakker and Tn. I think I will do better once the ground isnt frozen. How about these

 

[yakker]

Looks like you have some pretty decent flint- and maybe a worked piece or two. But the fact that you've got flint is a good sign if nothing else. That one piece that's alone on white...maybe. Hard to tell from the pics. The striped pieces look to be bits of brick. If there are particular pieces you want an opinion of, you'll need to take closer, sharper pics. It's hard, but if you use macro (tulip icon) it'll help a lot.
Keep in mind too that you're looking through a pile of stuff your g-pa moved, so there are bound to be a bunch of broken pieces due to the machinery be it plow or back-hoe or whatever. If I were you, I'd keep looking at the flint and chert- the black material you've found. And once the ground is thawed out and you can hunt a field or creek nearby (if there is one) you'll have better luck.

 

[unclemac]

where exactly are you hunting?

 

[TheTh3rd]

where exactly are you hunting?

My families land in South East Tn.

 

[Tnmountains]

He is in a very ancient historic cove that floods like crazy! I recognized it from one picture but it is an out of the way place. Full of artifacts just not everywhere.

 

[TheTh3rd]

I think i found a hammer stone/celt.. is it hammer time yet?

 

[bigjohnnyblue]

Looks like a grinding/pecking stone. I always called them egg stones.

 

[TheTh3rd]

Looks like a grinding/pecking stone. I always called them egg stones.

This one stuck out... literally like a sore thumb. It looks worked..Am I looking at it correctly?