big chert knife

[larson1951]

big chert knife

My friend Russie found this big chert knife this afternoon

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Treasure of Victoria Peak - Grab it through Amazon!

[oldgoat]

Re: big chert knife

Your friend should be proud, really nice piece...
Can I be your friend? lol

 

[pickaway]

Re: big chert knife

That is a big one...And a big thanks again...

 

[uniface]

Re: big chert knife

Wow !!!!

 

[ohioaxeman]

Re: big chert knife

very nice piece

 

[uniface]

Re: big chert knife

It would be VERY interesting to see what else Russie's found where that knife came from !

Whoever made it really knew what he was doing. One outrepasse flake on something might be an accident, so I wouldn't get that steamed about it yet, but it wouldn't be at all surprising if his site turned out to be a very old one indeed.

 

[larson1951]

Re: big chert knife

thanks uniface, yes I was about 5 feet from him when he picked this up and handed it to me

this is from my field

yes the same field everything else I post comes from

I invited him to walk for about an hour yesterday

what is that flake you just mentioned, can you explain please?
thanks, Larson1951

 

[The Grim Reaper]

Re: big chert knife

outrepasse is a flaking technique in which a large flake is taken off that extends from one edge to the other edge. I must be missing something on your knife because I don't see any like that. This is flaking technique that was done by the Paleo culture and I think uniface may believe your buddies knife is a lot older that the other artifacts you find on your site.

Very nice Knife your buddy found.

 

[uniface]

Re: big chert knife

Sometimes this sort of flaking is interrupted by removals meeting it from the other side -- which is what it looks like was the case here.

As a rule of thumb, curved flakes that go past the center line came from a different strategy than the one where the flaking from both sides meet in a ridge running down the length of the piece.

 

[Neanderthal]

Re: big chert knife

"Outre passe" flaking occurs randomly also, regardless of what you'll read elsewhere. Especially when you are working with higher quality materials. Also, it doesn't always occur purposefully, ask any knapper. Caddoan blades can exhibit Outre Passe flaking, as well as many other large bifaces. However, it appears to be mainstay with certain early paleo (which is where a lot of the confusion lays).

Outre Passe flaking is basically horizontal flakes that transverse the complete face of a point, usually blowing out the other side. Every knapper must flake past the center of the biface in the thinning stages. It's an old knappers saying "If you aren't popping them past the middle, you're losing ground!". It's true. The flake has to travel at least past the center and overlap other flakes to be thinning it any. If you short-stroke it, you'll wind up with a very thick piece..lol. For points with a median ridge, the later stages of pressure flaking (after thinning) are taken only to the center.

For an illustrated reference on flaking terms and techniques, you can check here - http://www.arrowheads1.com/flaking/primer.htm

That looks like a nice piece Larson, does it show any sign of use?

 

[uniface]

Re: big chert knife

No disagreement there.

But going by the stuff I'm familiar with, reduction flakes tend to be flat.