AGAIN!

[NJKLAGT]

Hey Everyone,

I don't really actively search for Native American artifacts, and yet I've stumbled upon my third celt (EDIT: more likely an adze (EDIT 2: it's a celt again!)). I found this in the hole while digging a metal signal at a new site (the signal was a chunk of melted lead).

It's right around 3.5 inches long, a little shorter and narrower than a similar specimen I found (below).

I don't know what to think anymore. I live in a historically rich area, but every time these things come up I still can't believe it.

Here are the artifacts I've found that are made of this type of stone.

Good luck and happy hunting,


NJ

 

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[RockinIdaho]

Those are really nice.

Every day is good. Some days are just better than others.

 

[welsbury]

That is one good detector.

 

[unclemac]

i don't know how many times i have read that here..."I was digging a signal and up popped and artifact"....BAH! if only it was that easy for me!

 

[The Grim Reaper]

i don't know how many times i have read that here..."I was digging a signal and up popped and artifact"....BAH! if only it was that easy for me!

It happens quite often.

That is a killer Celt and the rest are very nice too. Do you ever find any Points?

 

[NJKLAGT]

Thanks guys!

This was yesterday, when our first real snow (a good amount) began to fall and stay on the ground. I first went to a familiar site and didn't find much of anything. I was loving the snow though, absolutely beautiful, you couldn't see 50 yards. But my detector started acting up from the cold and moisture, and my hands and feet were getting super cold, so I just started heading home. But I stopped at a spot that I knew would be junky, I thought I'd try it anyway, never been there before. It was one of those days where I didn't bring my camera or anything and just wanted to soak everything in and enjoy it. All I found was some lead and brass. I was super cold and starting to give up. But yeah, then this thing like, SPRANG UP out of the plug on a gentle incline, it came up and out through the dirt and matted down grass, absolute dead centre of the plug, as if it gave the signal, revealed itself just like that, born from the earth, totally surreal, it was one of those magical moments that don't happen very often. Awesome!

And Grim, the only real "point" I've found is this Onondaga chert knife/hide scraper. I'm still waiting for my first arrowhead. But since I don't look for these types of things specifically, my eyes usually only catch the larger objects. And I'm just not that educated about it (now I know for a fact that there is a large pounding tool that I left behind at a dump because I dismissed it as an ordinary long rock, silly me).

 

[arrow86]

That’s a really nice Celt .... maybe I should start detecting cause I’m still searching for my first ..... since you have access to the property and it’s popping out finds like that you should check any streams , washouts ,plowed fields I bet there’s some real killers out there.

 

[flinthunter]

Very nice. I think I would call that an adz instead of a celt.

 

[NJKLAGT]

Very nice. I think I would call that an adz instead of a celt.

One side comes to the edge more gradually than the other, so I think you're probably right. Usually I just refer to these as an "adze or celt" to be safe. When I call it one thing, I never exclude the possibility of it being the other. Having looked at it more closely now, I'll refer to this as an adze from now on. Thanks flinthunter!

 

[Charl]

One side comes to the edge more gradually than the other, so I think you're probably right. Usually I just refer to these as an "adze or celt" to be safe. When I call it one thing, I never exclude the possibility of it being the other. Having looked at it more closely now, I'll refer to this as an adze from now on. Thanks flinthunter!

Just look at the edge straight on. I couldn't do that, because there was no photo of the edge straight on. But, if the edge is a straight edge, it's a celt. If there's a good curve when viewed head on, it's likely an adze. And, of course, if the business end is both curved, and with a trough or channel running back from that business end, it's a gouge.

 

[monsterrack]

Super finds just super.

 

[NJKLAGT]

Just look at the edge straight on. I couldn't do that, because there was no photo of the edge straight on. But, if the edge is a straight edge, it's a celt. If there's a good curve when viewed head on, it's likely an adze. And, of course, if the business end is both curved, and with a trough or channel running back from that business end, it's a gouge.

Here we go again! Haha, it's funny because last time I posted an artifact here (the bottom left one in the group pic), there were a lot of mixed opinions about whether it was a celt or adze. In the end I believe we arrived at celt...

Anyway, I'd say the edge of this one is pretty darn straight. And, looking at it yet again, maybe the sides do look pretty similar. I thought maybe the one side was a little more gradual, which it is, especially if I flip it over, but these kinds of things are pretty crude, so it's not like they're going to be perfectly symmetrical.

So, considering all of the criteria we've covered, I'm going BACK to calling this a celt then, haha. Thanks so much for your help!

 

[choo]

Yeah I agree on that being a adz ! Nice find I just bought my first metal detector last week a Garrett ace 400 can't wait to take it out!

 

[NJKLAGT]

Yeah I agree on that being a adz ! Nice find I just bought my first metal detector last week a Garrett ace 400 can't wait to take it out!

Hah! I knew that archaeology could be inconclusive at times, but this is just nuts! I'm just gonna start calling this thing a "celdze"

 

[quito]

Here we go again! Haha, it's funny because last time I posted an artifact here (the bottom left one in the group pic), there were a lot of mixed opinions about whether it was a celt or adze. In the end I believe we arrived at celt...

Anyway, I'd say the edge of this one is pretty darn straight. And, looking at it yet again, maybe the sides do look pretty similar. I thought maybe the one side was a little more gradual, which it is, especially if I flip it over, but these kinds of things are pretty crude, so it's not like they're going to be perfectly symmetrical.

So, considering all of the criteria we've covered, I'm going BACK to calling this a celt then, haha. Thanks so much for your help!

View attachment 1652900 View attachment 1652901

nice one!!! Amazing how these things are found sometimes.

With that bit as straight as an arrow, I have to say it sure fits the form of a Celt.

 

[Charl]

Hah! I knew that archaeology could be inconclusive at times, but this is just nuts! I'm just gonna start calling this thing a "celdze"

Well, for sure you can call it a super nice find by any name. But, thanks to your good photos of the business end, you can confidently call it a celt.

For comparison, here is a small adze, and looking straight on at the bit:





And looking at the leading edge of this adze from the side.

 

[Plumbata]

Lovely celt, the fresh and sharp bit on the piece is fantastic. Much better than a lump-o-lead!

 

[NJKLAGT]

View attachment 1652993

Wow, now that's quite different. Thank you for this example, that helps a lot. I think this case might just be closed!

 

[NJKLAGT]

Lovely celt, the fresh and sharp bit on the piece is fantastic. Much better than a lump-o-lead!

Plumbata, I'm used to pulling up dull rusted iron garden tools and bent up cutlery, and so I could not believe just how nice this edge is. Haha, you'll probably laugh at this, but the first thing I did when I found this celt, after inspecting it of course, was to lightly chop at my chest and head with it, haha, to appreciate the edge, the weight, and its effectiveness as a tool/weapon. Actually I think I've done that with all three of these celts I've found. Gotta use your imagination!