Did I find a scraper? Photo-heavy post

[BrettCo124]

Hi all,

Went out hunting with a new friend the other day in Maryland, and I picked this up. My question is, 1, is it a scraper? And 2, if so, how do you know? My main question is, how do you REALLY know? I’m really struggling to see what you see. I question why it couldn’t just be an old chunk of quartz that broke open.

Also, I’m posting a photo of a possible nutting stone. My questions would apply to this, as well. I’m getting a lot of great information from everybody, but the more I seem to ask, the more things I keep picking up on that will help me clarify what’s an artifact and what’s not.

Thanks all!

 

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[coosakid]

I'd say just broke piece of quartz.... But not a 100% sure, if it was it was a crude one.... When I find quartz pieces there usually really smooth and have a glossy look.... Also your points and tools will either be uniface or biface- uniface being flat on one side and biface has a worked edge from both sides like a knife... But I'm far from an expert just know what I've learned from folks on here... And I know nothing about stone tools... Was there any for sure artifacts found there before?

 

[arrow86]

I think that it’s a core instead of a scraper it’s hard to capture it in a pic but when held in the light can you see small percussion flaking? It almost looks like a bunch of small half circle shapes I’ll see if I can get a pic of what I’m trying to explain. The second piece I would have picked up mostly due to atleast 75% of hammer stones and pestles I have found are the same material. I’m guessing it was found in a field and those are plow marks.

 

[BrettCo124]

I'd say just broke piece of quartz.... But not a 100% sure, if it was it was a crude one.... When I find quartz pieces there usually really smooth and have a glossy look.... Also your points and tools will either be uniface or biface- uniface being flat on one side and biface has a worked edge from both sides like a knife... But I'm far from an expert just know what I've learned from folks on here... And I know nothing about stone tools... Was there any for sure artifacts found there before?

Thank you! Yes, many tools and other artifacts have been found on this field. I took them home just in case

 

[BrettCo124]

I think that it’s a core instead of a scraper it’s hard to capture it in a pic but when held in the light can you see small percussion flaking? It almost looks like a bunch of small half circle shapes I’ll see if I can get a pic of what I’m trying to explain. The second piece I would have picked up mostly due to atleast 75% of hammer stones and pestles I have found are the same material. I’m guessing it was found in a field and those are plow marks.

I’ll have to take a closer look to identify flaking under a light. I checked without a good light source on it, so maybe I’ll find some flaking if I look extra close.

Do you think the potential hammer stone was used? It has something in the middle of it (as seen in the photo) but it’s not deep at all, and could be anything.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Nothing on either says artifact that I see, the round rock has plow strikes on it which is what most likely caused the damage you mention.

 

[BrettCo124]

I think so too. Thank you all very much.

 

[gentleone444]

If you have to ask then its natural

 

[BrettCo124]

If you have to ask then its natural

I used to think that was true, but I’m still fairly new to the game and I almost gave up several artifacts before by using that logic. Also, quartz seems to be the primary choice of stone where I’m from, and I’m gathering that it can be sometimes difficult to ID flaking and things like that.

 

[coosakid]

I used to think that was true, but I’m still fairly new to the game and I almost gave up several artifacts before by using that logic. Also, quartz seems to be the primary choice of stone where I’m from, and I’m gathering that it can be sometimes difficult to ID flaking and things like that.

Quartz hardly shows any flaking.... That's mainly what I find around here.. I'll try to get a couple of pictures . Once you figure what to look for it'll help alot. But you still have to find a good spot

 

[Tnmountains]

Depends upon the quality of the quartz. Some will show the workmanship other just look like an artifact in shape. Keep after it and look for the knapped flint that have marks like the piece below.

 

[quito]

If you have to ask then its natural

if that was supposed to be advice, its bad advice gentleone444.

Nobody knows what everything is right from the start, heck, some of the older hunters are still learning what some of the simple tools are.

 

[rock]

Nothing on either says artifact that I see, the round rock has plow strikes on it which is what most likely caused the damage you mention.

Im not sure if all states use the Disc but they will scratch and cut rocks rite in half. But yes I agree with T H