My amazing wife found something while walking 9 dogs at work!

[Bquamb]

So... I have the best friend in the world. She has a very busy job as a keeper of the hounds, sometimes out with up to 12 off leash dogs each hike. Today was a nice easy day here on Vancouver Island, BC. She stumbled upon what we think might be a Native American type or aboriginal tool for cutting. It is GORGEOUS held up to a light, translucent and looks like a ton of effort was put into crafting this amazing tool (at least in my eyes). Never have I seen a point or tool like this in display and can't seem to find much information online either. So I ask you, the experts... What did she find?

We don't want to reveal too much information as to preserve the area but she was on a small coastal mountain and the tool was located in the creek bank/wash out about 1' up in a 3' tall bank.

I love how the little notch is super smooth, it fits perfectly in her hand and is still sharp.


Thanks to all that help!

 

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[Treasure_Hunter]

It is a nice knife...

 

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[Mrdigz]

Wow that's beautiful congrats!!
I would guess a knife or it could've been used as a spearhead.

 

[welsbury]

Congrats to your wife,she has a good eye. I believe it is a Cascade artifact and probably a small knife.

 

[jewelerguy]

that's awesome

 

[Twitch]

Thanks to all for the input, comments and suggestions. Still trying to figure out who was here and how long ago this could possibly date back?! It obviously has some wear from erosion and where we found it but still super sharp. Will be posting this in the native section as well.

Thanks again all!

It's likely between 8,500-10,500 years old. A very old piece, late Paleo I'd guess. Generally these are not lone, isolated finds. Take some time, head back to the spot and there probably are more artifacts to be found. Nice find.

 

[dogteam]

That's beautiful. I suppose if that notch is intentional rather than damage, it could be used as an arrow shaft scraper. Generally these tools would be "multipurpose", you may have a prehistoric Swiss Army knife there!

 

[Doc Arey]

Dang! Wow!

 

[Zomotion]

I'm from your area and I know there is a lot of history with whale hunting. Makah tribe. Possibly could be used for cutting through whale hide/skin.... You'd need some thing as sharp as obsidian I'd imagine

 

[CMDiamonddawg]

Great artifact ! Obsidian has a sharp edge characteristic for primitive use as a multi purpose tool . Very nice find by your wife ... beats dooggy poop scoop stuff all day long !!!

 

[WildWildBill]

It is a woman's hand blade. Understand that most points that weren't war points (small triangles made during Woodland and historic period) were like a multipurpose tool. This blade was used at either end for piercing, and the notched was just a quick make for a cutting/tearing effect. The regular blade side was used for carving/slicing. If you look at a typical Ohio Valley arrowhead, say a pine tree, is is a perfect example. Easy to put on a shaft for an arrow, but once again, a multipurpose tool. The notches were used to help make/shape the shafts for arrows. The tip was used for piercing. The edge used for slicing/carving, and realize many points like the pine tree hand strong barbs on them to make the job easier. Many arrowheads found that were discarded by Indians had been resharpened many times since the initial make of the arrowhead when the barbs were added. Points found with large barbs in perfect shape were probably lost in the moving effort, or while on the hunt. This obsidian point would be categorized as a woman's hand blade.

 

[Fugio]

Very cool find! Your wife has a good eye!

 

[Bquamb]

It is a woman's hand blade. Understand that most points that weren't war points (small triangles made during Woodland and historic period) were like a multipurpose tool. This blade was used at either end for piercing, and the notched was just a quick make for a cutting/tearing effect. The regular blade side was used for carving/slicing. If you look at a typical Ohio Valley arrowhead, say a pine tree, is is a perfect example. Easy to put on a shaft for an arrow, but once again, a multipurpose tool. The notches were used to help make/shape the shafts for arrows. The tip was used for piercing. The edge used for slicing/carving, and realize many points like the pine tree hand strong barbs on them to make the job easier. Many arrowheads found that were discarded by Indians had been resharpened many times since the initial make of the arrowhead when the barbs were added. Points found with large barbs in perfect shape were probably lost in the moving effort, or while on the hunt. This obsidian point would be categorized as a woman's hand blade.

Thank you very much for this lengthy write up. We have been looking all over the mountain for more but have yet to find anything else. It was found in a super weird area, likely part of a land slide or creek/river run off... Would LOVE TO FIND MORE!!!

Great artifact ! Obsidian has a sharp edge characteristic for primitive use as a multi purpose tool . Very nice find by your wife ... beats dooggy poop scoop stuff all day long !!!

She says "Almost ANYTHING is better than picking up poop after plop after diahrea and poo-puke! Apparently dogs LOVE the taste of human ****... Lovely.

I'm from your area and I know there is a lot of history with whale hunting. Makah tribe. Possibly could be used for cutting through whale hide/skin.... You'd need some thing as sharp as obsidian I'd imagine

You're from Vancouver island / Victoria. .!? That is awesome! I have brought it to a few specialists, but nobody had mentioned the Mekah tribe. Will be looking into this further for sure!

 

[BagLady]

I think it's a Woodland period piece too. Dating 1000 B.P. to 100 A.D.
Amazingly beautiful knife! Congrats!

 

[Zomotion]

I'm from Tacoma, Washington.... So not that close but just a few hundred miles and a ferry ride away! The makah tribe is from the very NW tip of wa.

 

[Bquamb]

We have called the museum here and they told us if we were to bring it in, they may have the right to take and keep it... Is this true?

 

[Zomotion]

We have called the museum here and they told us if we were to bring it in, they may have the right to take and keep it... Is this true?

Check out this link... Native Americans may have the right. I'm no expert but An interesting subject

Annenberg Classroom - Speak Outs - Who should own Native American artifacts?

 

[unclemac]

you posted this on the Native American site...