Spear Head

Icewing

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Ok this is one of the best things I've ever found, even better than another gold ring in my book.
What's more shocking was I found it while metal detecting in the front yard of the home where I grew up, roughly 20 feet from the front door. I wasn't even there to dig I just decided to give it a go with my new machine since I hadn't used it there yet. I found a bunch of stuff, some of which I'll post in the What is it? section, but I had to share this beauty first.

Note: the vein of quarts threw it just behind the tip and the twist in its design.

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Upvote 36

plymouthian12

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That's gorgeous

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Icewing

Icewing

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Ok I just got an ID from the Arkansas Archeological Survey and they said it's a late Archaic Period preform for a "Smith Point" and said it's definitely pre-Osage Indians and dates to around 3,000-1,000 B.C.
He also said they are usually found in caches and to keep digging. To which I said Gladly!
 

Plug N Play

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They are grasping at straws.
If there is a direct connection to the other point you show in post 19, then I'd go with that.

This style was a way to "preform" pieces 14,000 ago until the present.
I made a couple yesterday.

Need to look at the other edge, for signs that the torque was deliberate.
A knapper wouldn't create the torque in a preform, intentionally, if it was intended as a projectile.
He would if it was intended as a knife.

A very close examination of the edges may show very tiny chips, smoothness or scratches that would suggest use wear and confirm it as a used knife.
Look for use wear where you would expect it, and confirm it differs from the unused base edges.

Wide knifes like this were often used and sharpened down, over time, finally being used as a preform for a projectile point, later.
It's the torque that catches my eye ... may be deliberate, may be accidental ...
What's the opposing edge look like ?
If you see a similar torque ... I'd lean heavily towards knife.
 

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Icewing

Icewing

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I started another thread in the North American Indian Artifacts thread showing most of the pieces I have from the arean.
http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/north-american-indian-artifacts/530758-my-discovery.html
This morning I got a second ID from the Museum of Native American History saying pretty much the same thing, late Archaic preform, and that they often find them in caches of a half dozen or so. And since they are the experts who study them for a living, who am I to argue?

As for the torque
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Plug N Play

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Oh, sorry, I missed the other post, Icewing.

In association with the other pieces shown there, I'd go with the dates they are suggesting.
The torque doesn't line up as I'd expected, ... leaning towards preform, here, also.

If there is one preform, it is very possible that there might be more.
Looks like a nice site that should have lots of possibilities.

Keeping your eye to the ground, you may be able to determine the size of the site, over time.
May be extensive.
Lots of preforms might suggest a nearby quarry site and/or manufacturing site.
If that rock is common in your area, they may have just picked it up randomly, or out of the river gravels, to start with.

What I'm seeing, precedes the bow and arrow, in the Western Hemisphere.
Atlatls were the tool used to hunt with during this time frame.

Good luck, you're sitting on a hot-spot for pre-history.
 

Scrappy

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Beautiful knife stone buddy. That's something I'm dreaming of finding. I hope there's many more great finds on that site. Congrats
 

treblehunter

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That is way cool, I'm wanting in the worse way to find some kind of Indian artifact.
 

USMC Reaper

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That is unbelievably cool! I'm in North Georgia and I'm going to start hunting NA artifacts.

Congrats!!!
 

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