3-28-20 finds: a couple rare finds and regional lithic specimens

[MAMucker]

A Jack’s Reef Surf-Worn Oddity and a rare Quartz Madison







Rhyolites and Jasper and a Tip

 

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[welsbury]

Looks like the big one was used as a knife possibly. Your rhyolite looks like a harder stone than our rhyolites

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Great looking finds.

 

[Tdog]

I love the Jack's Reef surf worn oddity.

 

[dognose]

Nice finds. Interesting curve on the blade.

 

[arrow86]

Those are some really nice finds , I think I would have leaned more towards a Kirk corner than Jacks Reef on that one

 

[reuellis]

That blade is badass.

 

[MAMucker]

Those are some really nice finds , I think I would have leaned more towards a Kirk corner than Jacks Reef on that one

I can see why. It’s an oddball. Though we don’t have a true Kirk (early-mid archaic) documented on the New England coast as far as I know. Jack’s Reef Corner-Notched is established as Mid-Late Woodland period and can have shape deviations that appear similar to a Kirk.

Other than the odd shape, the point is also very long for the type. But, the angular shaped tip is correct on one side, giving it a (half) pentagonal look.

Its thinness is a typical feature of Jack’s Reef (not Kirk).

I think its ears and barbs have been reduced and smoothed by the years in the surf.

Not saying a Kirk couldn’t get here. And I don’t have a good read on the material.

Interesting thought.

 

[CaptEsteban]

Love that little quartz !

 

[Kevin in IN]

Very nice

 

[tnmudman]

Great finds!

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Wonder if the knife didn't start out as a spear point that was broken and reworked into a knife

 

[Thirdeyeartifactguy]

Love it

 

[Charl]

Yeah, that JR Corner Notch is sweet! I wonder if the material might be an example of a dark phase piece of Braintree hornfels? Looks a bit too grainy for hornfels, but maybe, it was one of the two most preferred lithics for JR's, the other being jasper. It's got size, I'm guessing it was a knife from the get go. I have a big JR knife, almost 3". Don't see them this size very often.

 

[MAMucker]

Yeah, that JR Corner Notch is sweet! I wonder if the material might be an example of a dark phase piece of Braintree hornfels? Looks a bit too grainy for hornfels, but maybe, it was one of the two most preferred lithics for JR's, the other being jasper. It's got size, I'm guessing it was a knife from the get go. I have a big JR knife, almost 3". Don't see them this size very often.

Hey Charlie,
I meant to get back to you regarding this, but got side tracked.
The material is a bit hard to nail down for me. It’s a dark grey (with shade variations). The knapper clearly had trouble with it. There are visible veins or bands running through it, which would agree with Braintree Hornfels. But, hundreds of years in the surf has made this material tough to ID.

As to size, it’s about 2,1/2”