Amazing Find!!

[josh34]

Hey everyone, here is an unbelievable point I found this morning while sifting river gravel. The asphaultum hafting is still attached, and even more amazing is a piece of the wooden shaft is still present. I'm not sure what to do with it or how to preserve it, i'm leaving it in a cup of water till I get some more info. I'm thinking the wood is the most fragile part and if I let it dry out it might disintegrate. Any suggestions would be appreciated. By the way,this was found in SE Texas. Thanks, Josh

 

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[creekhunter]

Awesome, they did a television special on the History Channel on that asphaltum, and they showed how it was heated and applied, apparently an art in itself, finds with this still intact are rarer than rare.

 

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[Airborne80]

Speechless!!!!!!

 

[JimBeHuntin']

Very cool find ... I agree that the rarity of this find should place it on the banner ... again congratz on a truly nice find ~ Jimmy

 

[romeo-1]

Why isn't this on the banner...everyone click the Report to Moderator link at the bottom of the original post...let's get this up there!

 

[flip]

Way to go. I would check with the nearest university to see how they preserve a find like that.

 

[treasurefiend]

cool

 

[2bit4reale]

Amazing find!!! A BIG congrats!

 

[The.Boomer]

Totally a no absolutely nothing about arrow heads kinda guy here, and I know you'd probably never sell it. But I gotta ask what you experts would think a museum or private collector would pay for such a rarity ?

 

[Kiros32]

That is too damn cool man, congrats

 

[Philvis]

Josh,
Keep it wet and contact the University of Texas at Austin archaeology department. They will be able to assist you with preservation. Organics rarely survive so you have a pretty significant find. I'm a former archaeologist and still have some contacts, so let me know if you need any assistance.

 

[N.J.THer]

Awesome find...congrats on the find and the banner. Well deserved.

NJ

 

[JP]

Josh,
Keep it wet and contact the University of Texas at Austin archaeology department. They will be able to assist you with preservation. Organics rarely survive so you have a pretty significant find. I'm a former archaeologist and still have some contacts, so let me know if you need any assistance.

I second it.

You have an amazing find there. Contact them for help,at least preserve it for future generations. They might be able to help you and depending on if they have a loan program, you could loan it to them so they could put it on display for others to see. I have seen at several museums where the card with it will say on loan from such and such person. It stays as your property. It's a nice reward to know that others will see your collection.

That is such an incredible find. Congrats for making the banner. You deserve it with such a spectacular find.

HH

 

[ohannos]

Wow! First time i saw one with asphalt still on it. I wonder if it would be better to keep it in sterilised water?
Super find!

 

[josh34]

Thanks everyone for all the comments and I appreciate you guys putting this on the banner. I'm still blown away by this find,its pretty unbelieveable that this artifact survived for so long. I am trying to contact an archaeologist so I can find a way to preserve it and I'm still keeping it in water. As far as the age goes, I really don't know, my guess would be a archaic point, maybe a Gary. I guess there is no way to be sure without an X-ray, or carbon dating of the wood. I'm trying to handle it as little as possible, but I'm going to take it out and take a few more pics that I will post. Thanks again, Josh

 

[Cubfan64]

Keep it in water as close to the same water as where you got it from.

DON'T put it in distilled water - Deionized water will actually leach things from it's surroundings faster than normal tap water.

If I were you, I'd get a small container, place some gravel from the same river bed in the bottom, then place the tip on top of the gravel so it's "held in place" and then cover the whole thing with the same river water you got it from.

Take it to a good university or museum as soon as you can and see if they can help you with it. I suppose there is the risk that some organization or other will try to "claim" it from you, but it's still worth it to preserve it.

What an amazing artifact - never seen anything like it, in a museum or outside of one! Congratulations!

 

[Atlantis0077]

Excellent!

Absolutely amazing find. Who knows, there may be another where you found that. Conditions there may be condusive to preservation. I am just amazed that even some of the wood remains. I have heard of finding such things preserved in caves, but never in water. Congrats on making the banner as well.

Keep up the good work!

Happy Hunting,

Atlantis

 

[dgaughan]

absolutely fantastic find congrats

 

[NJ Marty]

Josh, your point is one of the best finds I have ever seen on Tnet or anywhere else. I am stunned. It is right up there with finding a gold coin but a tad bit better. You could find a million points and never find one like yours. Congrats on the find and the banner.
NJ Marty

 

[Jonnyreb]

Good to see it made Banner, and thank you for showing such a nice find. I dont get to see much from your area. I've seen a few Morhiss points with bits of asphaltum clinging, but nothing like that!!
Thanks for posting that outstanding find!!

 

[Old Dog]

Josh,

I agree with all the above.
I'm glad you found it, you deserve it.
Congrats on your BANNER find

Hope you find many more.
Thom