Man Altered Savannah River shark tooth

Indian.outlaw

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Sep 24, 2022
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My pops found this around 15 years ago along the Ga/Sc line (Georgia side) on the Savannah River. It’s been in a box since then with some other shark teeth until recently, I originally tried getting an id on the type of shark tooth, and couldn’t receive a definite answer. I think the pronounced edges at the base were throwing people off. Anyways, after conversing with some Florida bone & shell artifact experts it turns out it was indeed altered by man. More than likely used as a knife. Pretty stoked myself and my pops was excited to hear it as well.
 

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Last edited:
Upvote 7

Tdog

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May 30, 2019
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A piece that old would tumble around for so long that a complete one would be rare IMO! I'd like to see the area that was altered by man.
 

Older The Better

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Apr 24, 2017
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Super cool but I know nothing about shark tooth knives so I’m a bit Leary, I’m not saying you are wrong, I have no idea, but I’m curious what looks altered by man, it does looks pinched but did they sand the area?
 

Kray Gelder

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Feb 24, 2017
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I think there are a couple of things about your tooth, pointing to your thinking it's possibly an artifact. The tooth is what's called by some, a pathological tooth. Deformed for whatever reason while growing on the endless chain of new teeth, it functioned good enough until falling out of it's mouth, replaced by a "normally" shaped tooth.

patthological tooth1.jpg



pathological tooth2.jpg
A couple examples from the web.

The other thing is that the loose layers of enamel that extended further up the tooth have been plucked off by someone, for whatever reason, after it was found, leaving you with that demarcation line. It was worked by "man", it is not Native ( unless by some weird chance...). It is a cool tooth. IMO.
 

unclemac

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Oct 12, 2011
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it would have made a poor tool as it is but it is an awesome find none the less.
 

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