New to Forum - and new items found

[HDS1973]

Hello, I'm new to this forum and wanted to share some of the images of the objects I found today. I have searched the entire summer and miles upon miles of creek and river bed searching and dredging only to find nothing. That all came to an abrupt conclusion on the 27th of Sept when I found my very first artifact. It is the hand scraper that is the first photograph posted. Today, I revisited the very same site and discovered the all the rest - I believe four partial bowls (3) sides and (1) bottom (all soap stone). A scraper that is quite similar to the one on my first visit - (although I am not certain if it is the deal) and other objects that I would like to get opinions on - whether they are just rocks or artifacts. Lastly everything was found within a 5'X12' area in a creek bed in Maryland. Any thoughts or comments are truly appreciated. Thanks.

 

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[Mark Todd]

Steve-Mainly the three pieces in the one picture are what I believe are broken pre-form lug handle bowl pieces. Looks like clear gouge marks. The rest may be just plain rocks or a piece or two of soapstone debitage in the mix. The quartz/quartzite rocks in the pictures I would likely not even pick up thinking they are nothing but if I found those three pieces near by I would take a closer look at them. I don't know about the one in pictures but some extremely crude tools were used to gouge and carve the soapstone.
View attachment 1223432 View attachment 1223433

I'd say your onto something, the gouge marks are are all over most of the items pictured and what look like handles betray mere coincidence, your old illustrations make a compelling case.

 

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[Mark Todd]

I would say all of the ones in your last pictures are worked soapstone. I think that the might have been broken during the making. Most soapstone stuff around here is Archaic period. Keep looking!

Good eye, you recognized the worked soapstone pieces as well, good call.

 

[SCrocks]

HDA1972- Most pieces you don't see it in but soapstone can have a layered look to it. I have some pieces that are layered like that. Again I think you are on/near a work site- likely a quarry close by. If so you might find a bunch of soapstone preform pieces and debitage around. Interested to see what comes from around there in the future. Good hunting-

 

[Charl]

The layered piece does not look like soapstone to me, either. But this piece looks like a soapstone bowl fragment with the lug on the outside. In the one photo, you can even see the typical chisel tool marks on the exterior....

 

[Charl]

The question was asked "what are we seeing here". Can only speak for myself, but we find tons of steatite up here, and what my eyes are seeing very clearly appears to be a broken steatite bowl form with lug, as pictured in the previous comment. And yes, some of the other pieces do look like broken soapstone forms as well. But certainly the one pictured above is a clear example. To my eyes. Based on having found many similar steatite forms. I would need to hold them to know for sure if the material is in fact steatite, but it sure as heck looks it to my eyes. I mean, you can clearly see the gouge/chisel marks on the example in the previous comment(seen in the photo with the lug facing the viewer). If you are experienced finding steatite/soapstone, that piece is screaming steatite bowl form, as far as I am concerned. Heck, just look at the very, very obvious lug! Photo reproduced here, as well. Here is an article describing vessel manufacturing at one of our quarry sites. And illustrations of some unfinished/broken steatite bowl and cup forms.....

http://library.bridgew.edu/exhibits/BMAS/pdf/MAS-v30n0304.pdf

 

[Charl]

Still not seeing anything but natural rocks..

Perhaps you're just not used to finding steatite forms. Several are very obvious, especially the bowl form with lug, showing gouge work.....

The bowl form in question showing gouge marks identical to the gouge marks seen on the repaired finished bowl with lugs.....

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Perhaps you're just not used to finding steatite forms. Several are very obvious, especially the bowl form with lug, showing gouge work.....

The bowl form in question showing gouge marks identical to the gouge marks seen on the repaired finished bowl with lugs.....

I see what your referring to but I still cant see proof it is man made.... Could just as easily be natural.

Just my opinion....

 

[HDS1973]

Some new rocks found!

 

[SCrocks]

Looks like you are going to have a nice stack of broken up pre-form bowls before long. Hope you can pull out a few more defined ones. Thanks for showing.