NA Tool -Bowl Pick? Awl? Any thoughts?

[MAMucker]

In light of last week’s information (added to a post by Charl) documenting a type of Steatite Bowl Pick.

Here’s an item that I’ve held onto for years. It’s made of a material that is quite rare in my area. It’s about 3” long. Smooth and polished, especially on what I believe to be the Bit-End.

Please add any knowledge you may have on the material -and if you have any thoughts regarding the possibility that it is or may be a tool.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A History of Mining on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska - Grab it through Amazon!

[Quartzite Keith]

Holmes does describe such tools found at the Maryland soapstone quarries. Ones shown below are 3.5 -4 inches long, from this book, I highly recommend:

https://www.gustavslibrary.com/potomacchesapeake.htm

Also see his chapter on the subject in this book:

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uva.x001726249&view=1up&seq=252

 

[Charl]

Seems possible. Here is an end pick we found years ago in a soapstone workshop area of one of our sites. In this case, it's made from Attleboro Red Rhyolite. It's remindful of what you're showing:

 

[Charl]

Here's our largest example. New England argillite, aka argillaceous slate. Reduced from a large cobble, still has a patch of the cobble cortex in the center....

 

[smokeythecat]

Your material is almost identical to what I call the "Delaware River black chert". It comes from the northern end of the Delaware River, all the way down to the ocean.

 

[Charl]

The first one I showed was intended for use with the right hand. It has a flat ledge to rest the index finger, and a depression that served as a thumb grip....

 

[MAMucker]

Your material is almost identical to what I call the "Delaware River black chert". It comes from the northern end of the Delaware River, all the way down to the ocean.

Thanks Smokey,
Do you have any examples possibly for show and tell? I have one point made of the same.

 

[smokeythecat]

Here are a few examples. Two archaic thumb scrapers and one tiny Palmer early archaic point, and a larger point, also probably a Palmer.

 

[MAMucker]

The first one I showed was intended for use with the right hand. It has a flat ledge to rest the index finger, and a depression that served as a thumb grip....

View attachment 1734415 View attachment 1734417 View attachment 1734419

I’m not sure it matters, but the ((I’ll call it an End Pick) seems to fit comfortably in either hand.

I am curious about the location it was found. (Material and Tool Type) Does it belong here? I have found several broken Neville Points and broken round base broad blade implements. (It’s a completely developed and disturbed site-cranberry bog) I have also found a quartz Squibnocket triangle, a Merrimack Stemmed Point and a Levanna Triangle among other artifacts. So, it’s a multi-period site.

 

[Charl]

I’m not sure it matters, but the ((I’ll call it an End Pick) seems to fit comfortably in either hand.

I am curious about the location it was found. (Material and Tool Type) Does it belong here? I have found several broken Neville Points and broken round base broad blade implements. (It’s a completely developed and disturbed site-cranberry bog) I have also found a quartz Squibnocket triangle, a Merrimack Stemmed Point and a Levanna Triangle among other artifacts. So, it’s a multi-period site.
View attachment 1734491
View attachment 1734492
View attachment 1734493
View attachment 1734494

As far as "does it belong here?", because I can't answer the question of material, end picks were a basic tool in the manufacturing of hardstone tools, as well as steatite vessels. So, they should be common artifacts at many sites, not just soapstone quarries or workshops.

As far as "fit", and the hand, I have found that many hand held tools, but most especially those used in pounding activities, have deliberate ergonomic features simply to lessen the backward blow delivered to the user's hand when being used. For instance, in the rhyolite example I showed, when held as seen, the heel of the stone is a broad flat surface that rests against my palm, not a sharp surface, with protrusions, etc. It just makes sense that the maker would want a hand held tool, used to strike blows to rock, to simply not actually hurt his hand with every blow.

It is often said, especially with newcomers showing mere rocks, that "it fits perfect in my hand", and the common experienced reply is that "the human hand is such that any rock can be held in a way that 'fits the hand'" And while that is true as far as it goes, it has just been my experience that it is no coincidence when I discover an ergonomic aspect to many casual tools intended for hand held use. I do believe it is deliberate, and I do believe it represents simple common sense on the part of the maker.

 

[MAMucker]

Thank you Everyone for all your help on this one.
As always, your expert opinions and documentation is very appreciated.

I have to dig in and find more info on the lithic. I’ll keep Delaware River Black Chert in mind. I was leaning toward Coshocton (up State NY?)

I was hoping the GrimReaper would weigh in as he has posted points that seem to be made of the same material.

That being said, anyone ‘s insight is welcome.

The deep black with inclusions (fossil?) and the lightning streaks.