Celt, Adze, Hoe, preform, or reject ??

[redbeardrelics]

Gator's thread on celts' got me to thinking about this large piece of rhyolite that I found in Harford County, Maryland back in the 1970's. This piece is worked all the way around, but is pretty crude I would say. At the time I found it I considered it a hoe, but now am leaning more towards it being a rejected piece due mainly to the large hinges stacked up on one side. I am interested in other opinions on what you would call it. The closest outcrop of rhyolite is roughly 80 miles overland from where this was found, so it puzzles me why they would not have worked this piece down further and made smaller points or knives with the material, if it had not worked out for them as a chipped axe or celt?

 

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[rock]

Im by far not a ax or hoe expert but I surely would of been excited to see it laying in the dirt.

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Looks like a Guilford Axe to me. They are usually pretty rough.

 

[Charl]

Here are some Guilford axes from the Carolina Piedmont. Said to have a pretty limited geographic range, but I agree with the Reaper that it looks like one.

Central States Archaeological Societies images from the April 2012 issue

 

[bsit1361]

I don't have a picture on me put I also have found almost the exact artifact in Harford. I called it a hand ax

 

[ncnurseryman]

I don't mean to bust up Red's thread but when I saw his pics it reminded me of this piece I found at a manufacturing site. I figured it is a core but now I'm not sure. Any thoughts.

 

[quito]

Good thing you hung on to it.

 

[redbeardrelics]

Thank you Reaper & Charl. I had note even heard of Guilford axes until I saw them mentioned here on Tnet a couple months ago, but it did not click with me that this piece might be one. Charl I really appreciate the link and photo you posted, it looks like my piece would fit in well in that photo, and I have now ordered the Journal off that link to read about them further. Bsit1361, I would love to see a photo of the piece you found when you get an opportunity. Thanks all, I consider this inquiry to be solved. HH

 

[NC field hunter]

I don't mean to bust up Red's thread but when I saw his pics it reminded me of this piece I found at a manufacturing site. I figured it is a core but now I'm not sure. Any thoughts.

Paul, most people around here would call that a guilford axe. It is more than a core. I have a few nice guilford axes I should post here. Nice finds, everyone!!

 

[ncnurseryman]

Boy, if that's an axe it sure is rough. All the Guilford's look rough though. Could you imagine working with something like that?

 

[monsterrack]

Reaper nailed it on the head