Mezzaluna blade

[Out Of Time]

Cool blade/multipurpose tool made from obsidian.

It's nicely made, sharp and has grinding on the broad mid section.

One of the nicest things I've found recently.

Napa, CA.

 

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[arrow86]

That is really nice great flaking

 

[Tony in SC]

Very nice piece!! The guy was a pro.

 

[southfork]

Nice find but I had to goggle mezzaluna double handled Italian blade ?

 

[Out Of Time]

Nice find but I had to goggle mezzaluna double handled Italian blade ?

Mezzaluna (half moon) seemed appropriate due to shape and how it might be used.

'Crescent' would be misleading as we know those to be a different type of western artifact.

Anyhow, it's just a descriptor for a post title.

It is a nice thing though.

Seems made for a lefty (very hard to get a comfy grip with right hand).

Also interesting that a small amount of 'rind' left on the butt of the base, as in all other respects it's a well finished piece.

I wonder if you have seen this shape before?

 

[southfork]

What I see is a HOUX CONTRACTING STEM / COASTAL CONTRACTING STEM CLUSTER . The rind is on the edge of one side not the base in my minds eye . Hard to type not having in hand NOEL D Justice Stone Age Spear and Arrow Points of California and The Great Basin is helpful . I only have a few Coastal points to compare to but they look a lot like Sierra Contracting points and all these people traded maybe they need to do some lumping . keep up the rescues .

 

[Out Of Time]

What I see is a HOUX CONTRACTING STEM / COASTAL CONTRACTING STEM CLUSTER . The rind is on the edge of one side not the base in my minds eye . Hard to type not having in hand NOEL D Justice Stone Age Spear and Arrow Points of California and The Great Basin is helpful . I only have a few Coastal points to compare to but they look a lot like Sierra Contracting points and all these people traded maybe they need to do some lumping . keep up the rescues .

You've confused me.

I didn't think this kind of tool could be typed to a cluster.

I thought 'types' were exclusive to points.

This, to my eye, is a cutting tool.

It does have a very specific shape that I wondered if you had ever come across?

Here's another couple of pictures showing base and cutting edge.







Here are some of the other things I found at same vineyard site.



I really want to get hold of a copy of Justice's 'Stone Age Spear and Arrow Points of California and The Great Basin'.

It would be an important resource but it costs over $200 so I'll have to wait.

 

[southfork]

You've confused me.

I didn't think this kind of tool could be typed to a cluster.

I thought 'types' were exclusive to points.

This, to my eye, is a cutting tool.

It does have a very specific shape that I wondered if you had ever come across?

Here's another couple of pictures showing base and cutting edge.

View attachment 1770548

View attachment 1770550

View attachment 1770551

Here are some of the other things I found at same vineyard site.

View attachment 1770556

I really want to get hold of a copy of Justice's 'Stone Age Spear and Arrow Points of California and The Great Basin'.

It would be an important resource but it costs over $200 so I'll have to wait.

I just see a artifact that was going to be a point or was and ended up a tool . It's still a nice find sorry if I confused you .

 

[Out Of Time]

No problem.

I always appreciate your comments.

 

[MAMucker]

All of them are very cool artifacts.
Can you show details of the two crystal looking pieces?

 

[Out Of Time]

All of them are very cool artifacts.
Can you show details of the two crystal looking pieces?

Absolutely.

They are Lake County Diamonds, also known as Moon Tears in NA folklore.

As far as I know, they are only found at Clear Lake in Lake County, CA.

It's said that tribes from that area placed them on graves to ward off spirits.

These two were found together in a vineyard in Napa, CA - about twenty miles south of Clear Lake - and must have been collected at Clear Lake, or traded in.

It's possible this one has been worked at the tip, but I'm not sure...

 

[MAMucker]

Another piece of the story.
Thank you for that info.

 

[dognose]

very nice finds