Texas Digs - Day 1

[Tejaas]

I had mentioned before in a previous post that I had been spending some time the last few months preparing for large scale digs here at the ranch in central Texas. Welded up three 4' x 8' steel sift tables, marking out and setting boundaries on 3 different midden / camp sites, test holes, etc...

I got done with all that a few weeks ago, and then switched my focus over to deer season, fishing, and some metal detecting before it got too cold for me.

Here in the TX Hill Country, we finally had our first real cold snap this weekend... Temps at the ranch dropped down to the mid 20s and everything iced over, stock troughs frozen solid, the whole nine... Absolutely miserable!

I got stir crazy sitting in front of the fireplace Saturday morning, so we headed out to "Site 2".

Using the tractor, we peeled back 2" of topsoil and pushed a 20' long strip into a single pile, then ran the pile thru 3 tables.

Here are the finds from Day 1 (about 8 hours).

I went over them with water and a brush when we got back to the house and laid them out on the dining room table over a big piece of blue felt left over from the Goliad relic displays project I recently posted.

I had to stand on a chair to get an "aerial" view, and took several pictures to try and eliminate some of the glare off the flint by slightly changing angles.

Sorry if the pics are kind of rough!

 

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[painterx7]

Not worthy here that is very awesome !!!!!

 

[rock]

Nice but why do you think there is so many broken ones? Also did you get any of that snow they showed on the news?

 

[Tejaas]

Nice but why do you think there is so many broken ones? Also did you get any of that snow they showed on the news?

These were all practically surface / topsoil finds... Real shallow and pretty rocky soil... "Site 2" is located very close to a good watering spot that hasn't changed it's path very much throughout the course of time. 125+ years of cattle heading to water probably took it's toll.

Once we get a bit further down, the complete points will start to show... This heavy of a concentration of "brokes" can only be a great precursor of what's to come... Not that I particularly care!

We didn't get any snow, which I'm thankful for!
All the drizzling happened before we busted into sub-30 degrees, and then it froze over. I don't take to cold weather as it is without a good reason or necessity, going out in snow would pretty much require persuasion with loss of life, limb, or eyesight!!!

 

[Tejaas]

I just realized that I forgot to add a scale reference...

For the sake of anyone interested, the first artifact (top row, far left) stands at exactly 4" tall...

 

[1320]

Incredible effort and finds! I've been on a few Texas sites and much like you're seeing here, some of those sites are just flat out loaded with artifacts. I too experienced the artifacts being close to the surface. Hope you'll be able to piece some of those brokes together. Look forward to more images from your site.

 

[Sallysue]

Guys you all did great

 

[rock]

That one far left 3rd row would of been huge if the tip wasnt missing. Its got some nice notches on it.

 

[firemac]

very nice finds! I like the 3rd from the left 5th row

 

[Sallysue]

Wish I was there to help

 

[monsterrack]

My friend that is the MOTHER LODE for sure

 

[Tnmountains]

That is freaking awesome / The way you are fighting you stand a good chance to find the tips and bases of possible brokes. Nice 8 hours worth. Hopefully the site is deep as well. Good luck and hope you take a lot of deer.

 

[Tejaas]

Thanks for all the comments!

 

[naturegirl]

Nice nice NICE! That must be loads of fun, make sure you enjoy it for those of us who can only dream ...and thanks for sharing it. I can't wait till you can dig deeper and get to some older whole points. I hope there is find of a lifetime waiting.

naturegirl

 

[Diggin-N-Dumps]

Great Finds man! I've been wanting to hunt more artifacts, but not to much going on up in North Tex.

 

[Tejaas]

Nice nice NICE! That must be loads of fun, make sure you enjoy it for those of us who can only dream ...and thanks for sharing it. I can't wait till you can dig deeper and get to some older whole points. I hope there is find of a lifetime waiting. naturegirl

Thanks!

I'll be sure to post them as I find them!