Diligence pays off

[Blackfoot58]

3+ inches of rain since Easter evening. Today 37 degrees F, snowing and windy. I decided to field walk any way. I found the assortment of flint shown below.

Then. I came across this one. Finally, my first of 2024. I don’t know if it was finished, but both sides have been worked. I’d call it a (biface) blade.

Here’s the other side

If anyone can tell me what period it’s from or what type, I’d appreciate it.
Regardless, I’m very happy to find more than just flakes. I wanted to take an in situ photo, but my hands were covered in wet mud. Thanks for viewing.

 

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[GDub62]

Nice one

 

[CreekSide]

Finally!!
Yes it’s a blade and sometimes they will be found in cashes. Go back to that spot in the future. Congratulations on your 1st find

 

[ArfieBoy]

Nice finds! Congratulations!

 

[Blackfoot58]

Finally!!
Yes it’s a blade and sometimes they will be found in cashes. Go back to that spot in the future. Congratulations on your 1st find

It was within about 5 yards of the location where I found a blade last year.

 

[antmike915]

Nice ; glad you finally scored 👍

 

[dognose]

nice.
I can see the mineralization on it.
the material is similar to what I find here in indiana
congratulations

 

[Hbot37]

Good eye!

 

[pingdis]

Congrats on the nice find.

 

[CreekSide]

It was within about 5 yards of the location where I found a blade last year.

You should post the 2 together

 

[Blackfoot58]

You should post the 2 together

Good idea. Here is a photo of them together. Different in many ways. I would guess the one from today (left) may be older.

 

[CreekSide]

Both could have been made by the same person. Right one looks more advanced almost knife form. Left is a true blade waiting for more work to be finished.

 

[ToddsPoint]

You can tell if it’s a finished piece by the edge. If the edge is wavy it’s still being worked. A finished piece will have a straight edge that is thin like a feather.

 

[Blackfoot58]

You can tell if it’s a finished piece by the edge. If the edge is wavy it’s still being worked. A finished piece will have a straight edge that is thin like a feather.

This is wavy. Doesn’t look finished. Could it be a quarry blank?

 

[ToddsPoint]

Along the IL River there are bluff outcrops of Burlington as well as flint in the creeks. I’m thinking your part of IA would be similar. When they got flint from an outcrop they usually hauled it away to break it down. I think they wanted a safer place to work. Everyone knew where the outcrop was and they could avoid conflict by going elsewhere to break down bifaces. In the creeks, bifaces were made on the spot. In flint rich creeks you can usually find discarded reject bifaces everywhere.

 

[Blackfoot58]

Along the IL River there are bluff outcrops of Burlington as well as flint in the creeks. I’m thinking your part of IA would be similar. When they got flint from an outcrop they usually hauled it away to break it down. I think they wanted a safer place to work. Everyone knew where the outcrop was and they could avoid conflict by going elsewhere to break down bifaces. In the creeks, bifaces were made on the spot. In flint rich creeks you can usually find discarded reject bifaces everywhere.

I rarely find Burlington flint in this creek. I find nearly all of it on hillocks in fields. The creek does have a lot of “other” chert (brown, orange, tan and some reddish).

 

[ToddsPoint]

It sounds like you have a variety of materials. The Burlington must be the best. Why chip crappy stuff when the best is available nearby? There has to be a quarry not too far from your location. I found a bluff outcrop once along the IL River and was able to use a tire iron to pry out several nice blocks of Burlington. It’s out there if you look.